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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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.