IOWA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONpress-citizen.com | Local NewsBurglary stuns nonprofit group

Thieves steal jewelry, computers from store

By Heather McElvain
Iowa City Press-Citizen

The director of a non-profit organization that lost two computers and printers and a couple hundred pieces of vintage jewelry Saturday called the theft a low blow.

Tom Walz, volunteer director of the Extend the Dream Foundation, said someone stole the items from his organization's new e-commerce center and vintage store, businesses operated by and for people with disabilities, after breaking the window on a door Saturday night.

"It's sort of like stealing coins from a blind man on the corner," he said Monday. "These folks are all low-income, trying to earn a living, trying to develop something, and the resources they needed to work with and the opportunity are just kind of snatched from them," Walz said.

The Extend the Dream Foundation also sponsors Uptown Bill's Small Mall on Gilbert Street, a collection of stores and businesses operated by people with disabilities.

The foundation purchased the e-commerce and vintage store building at 2203 F St., in July and has been operating there since Oct. 1. A grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday.

The e-commerce program teaches people with disabilities to sell items, including some from the adjoining vintage store, online.

"We're teaching people how to do it and they get the experience so they can launch out on their own," Walz said.

The vintage store, operated by Gretchen Gentsch, features upper-scale antiques, clothing, collectibles and rare books in addition to jewelry.

Gentsch discovered the break-in Sunday morning.

"Basically, it was a shock," she said. "We don't have a lot of money, and it was hard to understand why someone would want to rip us off."

Gentsch said she thinks the store lost about $5,000 worth of jewelry. She said consignors have promised to bring in more items to fill the empty glass jewelry case.

The robbers also took the camera she uses to take pictures of items she's selling online, emptied the refrigerator, and took the microwave and other computer equipment.

Walz said police have no leads yet, and he's still working with his foundation's insurance company to determine how much it lost and what can be done.

Walz said his foundation has experienced theft in the past -- of a painting, sculpture and two guitars on different occasions -- but Saturday's break-in was the worst.

"It's sort of a real sense of invasion," Walz said. "It makes you feel pretty low."