Jacksonville artist says thieves ransacked his bus home, stole or damaged most of his belongings

A Jacksonville artist is picking up the pieces after he says thieves broke into his home and stole or damaged most of his belongings.

Darryl Green, a Jacksonville native, has spent the past six years transforming a school bus into a place to live and create.

“It’s been seen around town quite often,” Green said.

The bus has become more than just a home. Green uses it as a space to create art and music and pursue his work as a photographer and artist.

But while Green was out of town, he says someone broke into the bus in Riverside and took nearly everything they could.

“They pretty much stole everything that they could get out,” Green said. “They stole unfortunately all my clothes, all my shoes. My sentimental jewelry.”

Green says he learned about the burglary Sept. 8 after cameras monitoring the bus went out. He believes the burglary happened over Labor Day weekend.

“I would say 85 to 90% of my belongings are either stolen or broken,” Green said.

Among the losses were his professional cameras and computers, equipment he relies on for his creative work.

“Cameras that are broken, that’s $32,000 I won’t get back,” Green said. “You know, some of those cameras are from the ’70s and ’60s.”

Green says the loss goes beyond the financial value of the equipment. His cameras and computers are tools he uses to create and make a living.

The bus itself also represents years of work. Green says he built it with help from family and friends.

“I built that bus with my bare hands,” Green said. “I had family and friends help me as well. And my goal is to rebuild.”

Green says the loss has been devastating. For now, he is living out of a suitcase as he works to figure out his next steps.

Still, Green says he does not want anger to define what happens next.

He says he hopes the person or people responsible can find stability.

“I just pray that they get some type of stability and I know that karma will do what karma does,” Green said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed it is looking into the matter.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

For more information on how to help Green, you can click here.