A Jacksonville artist is picking up the pieces after he says thieves broke into his home and stole or damaged most of his belongings.<\/p>\n
Darryl Green, a Jacksonville native, has spent the past six years transforming a school bus into a place to live and create.<\/p>\n
“It’s been seen around town quite often,” Green said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But while Green was out of town, he says someone broke into the bus in Riverside and took nearly everything they could.<\/p>\n
“They pretty much stole everything that they could get out,” Green said. “They stole unfortunately all my clothes, all my shoes. My sentimental jewelry.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I would say 85 to 90% of my belongings are either stolen or broken,” Green said.<\/p>\n
Among the losses were his professional cameras and computers, equipment he relies on for his creative work.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The bus itself also represents years of work. Green says he built it with help from family and friends.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Still, Green says he does not want anger to define what happens next.<\/p>\n
He says he hopes the person or people responsible can find stability.<\/p>\n
“I just pray that they get some type of stability and I know that karma will do what karma does,” Green said.<\/p>\n
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed it is looking into the matter.<\/p>\n
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.<\/p>\n