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A local man is asking the public to keep an eye out after thieves recently stole more than $16,000 worth of tools from his shop.

Joey Villemez is a lifelong resident of Port Acres and owns a shop in Hamshire. On March 26 he went to the shop and noticed the doors pried open. Inside he saw BB guns on the floor, which was odd since Villemez always keeps the items locked up.

That’s when he began looking around the shop and noticed a lot of his belongings were missing.

Some of the items include Honda generators (two 2200 watt and one 1000 watt), two plasma hypertherm cutters for metal, boxes of Milwaukee power tools and eight fishing poles.

The fishing poles were Falcon brand, and the reels were Lews and Shimano.

“The grandkids had just got back from fishing and (thieves) stole every fishing pole I had,” Villemez said.

Villemez said he contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office regarding the crime.

Villemez said his is not the only building that was recently burglarized. A neighbor of his on Jade Avenue has more than $20,000 worth of items stolen.

Villemez uses his tools for work and through the years has built a Mardi Gras float. He takes part in Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas during the Courir de Mardi Gras, or chicken chase, and often brings special needs individuals with him on the float.

People with information about the crime can the Sheriff’s Office at 409-835-8411, Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 409-833-TIPS or download the P3 Tips app on a smart phone. Tips are anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.

Villemez is also asking people to contact him if they have information on the crime at 409-728-1668.