Oklahoma City electrician Matt Brown recovered many of his tools after police uncovered what appears to be a theft ring involving pawn shops in Newcastle.
According to News9, Brown’s tools—collected over two decades—showed up in a pawn shop database. Police identified a suspect and issued an arrest warrant in McClain County.
Brown said he saw about $1,700 worth of tools and batteries stolen, but only got back around $450 in value. He described watching his livelihood vanish when thieves struck in minutes. Once the News9 feature aired, authorities contacted him with leads that unearthed the suspected ring.
Community members rallied behind Brown and raised approximately $2,500 through a GoFundMe campaign to replace tools that thieves didn’t return. Police continue working to identify the person seen in video evidence and bring them to justice.
KWTV-DT CBS 9 Oklahoma City
Recovered in Newcastle: OKC electrician's tools unveil suspected theft ring
VIDEO: Police are investigating a possible theft ring after a local electrician's stolen tools ended up at a Newcastle pawn shop. News 9 first aired Matt Brown's story last week, and days later, he got his tools back, and police have identified a suspect.
Oklahoma City police notified the Newcastle Police Department when Brown's stolen tools turned up in a database connected to pawn shops across the metro.
Last Friday, Brown was not optimistic that he would ever see the tools he collected over two decades as an electrician again.
"Once 24, 28, 72, 96 hours go by, you're just like it's gone," said Brown. "It's in the wind."
Brown's livelihood was stripped away in only minutes by a suspect caught on camera outside a northwest Oklahoma City business. A call from the police the day after Brown's story aired on News 9 brought him hope.
"It is a big sigh of relief," said Brown.
Police notified Brown that a large portion of his stolen tools were pawned at a business in Newcastle.
