Des Moines Cops Nab Suspect in Cedar Rapids Burglary Spree

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Day.News) — A 32-year-old Des Moines man faces multiple felony charges after his arrest Thursday linked him to at least seven commercial burglaries across eastern Iowa, including high-profile hits in Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown. Des Moines Police Department investigators, working with Cedar Rapids authorities, recovered more than $50,000 in jewelry, electronics and cash stashed in a Polk County storage unit, sources close to the investigation confirmed. The spree, which began in late March, targeted liquor stores, jewelry shops and pharmacies along Interstate 80 corridors.

The breakthrough came after Cedar Rapids Police tracked a suspect vehicle spotted fleeing a April 4 smash-and-grab at Hellberg's Jewelers in downtown Marshalltown, where thieves shattered display cases and fled with $15,000 in diamonds and gold. Digital surveillance tied the break-ins to a Des Moines address, leading to the unnamed suspect's capture without incident. 'This guy's pattern was bold but sloppy — repeat hits in broad daylight,' said Cedar Rapids Detective Maria Gonzalez in a Friday briefing. Recovered items have been returned to victims, boosting morale among rattled business owners in Linn and Marshall counties.

While the primary suspect remains in Polk County Jail on $250,000 bond, warrants linger for two Des Moines accomplices, 53-year-old Douglas Allen Baker and 59-year-old Dewayne Edward Rowley, in the Marshalltown case. Baker faces pending third-degree burglary charges in Dallas County and prior felony theft convictions; Rowley was convicted of attempted burglary in 2023. Marshalltown Police urge tips via Crime Stoppers at 641-753-1234. Eastern Iowa burglaries spiked 22% this year per state crime data, straining local forces amid rising organized theft rings.

Business leaders in Cedar Rapids' Time Check neighborhood, hit hardest, praised the inter-agency effort. 'We've lost thousands; this arrest restores faith,' said Iowa Retail Merchants Association rep Tom Reilly. No further incidents reported since the takedown, as joint patrols intensify along U.S. Highway 30.