A resident of Cheektowaga is encouraging his neighbors to take extra precautions in safeguarding their garages following a theft that occurred in broad daylight.

**CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB)** – A local resident in Cheektowaga is sounding the alarm for his neighbors to enhance their security measures after a brazen daytime theft left him without essential lawn equipment worth hundreds of dollars. Dave Shovelman, a 20-year-old, reported that even with surveillance cameras and secure locks in place, a thief boldly walked into his family’s garage and made off with valuable tools, hindering his ability to offer lawn care services to elderly members of the community. "I can't emphasize enough how violated I felt," Shovelman expressed, reflecting on the incident. The theft took place on July 17 along Nokomis Parkway, where security footage captured a man entering the garage and stealing nearly $1,000 worth of equipment. "He took my leaf blower, mower, and weed whacker. I confronted him, asking, ‘What are you doing on my property?’ I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him holding my leaf blower, and then he just took off running," Shovelman recounted. This wasn’t the first time this particular individual targeted Shovelman’s garage. He mentioned that the police have been notified and are currently investigating to track down and identify the suspect. "He arrived in a stolen pickup truck," Shovelman noted. "I couldn't see the license plate, and then he came back on a bicycle." For the past three years, Shovelman has operated his own landscaping business, Dave’s Landscaping and Snow Removal, focusing primarily on assisting elderly residents by mowing their lawns, often for free. The recent theft has significantly affected his ability to provide these services. "I genuinely enjoy helping people, especially the elderly. Many of my customers have passed away, and it's heartbreaking because they become like family. I'm just trying to recover from this setback so I can get back to mowing lawns," he shared. Shovelman suspects that this theft is part of a broader trend affecting his neighborhood, as the suspect, seen in the footage, has allegedly targeted several homes on Ravenswood Terrace, Toelsin Road, and Nokomis Parkway. "He’s stolen from numerous others. He even drove away with someone else's riding mower, which is just unbelievable," Shovelman said. "One of the saddest parts is that he took an e-bike from a 12-year-old out of their garage." The Cheektowaga police confirmed that there have been reports this month of an ATV, two lawn mowers, and a leaf blower being stolen from the northern section of Cheektowaga. They are currently looking into whether these incidents are interconnected. In response to his loss, Shovelman has launched a [GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-restore-my-stolen-lawn-equipment) campaign to help replace the stolen equipment.