Hunter
08/14/24
An Iowa City man was arrested after allegedly trying to break into vehicles at an Iowa City auto repair shop.
Officers were called to the 1000 block of Gilbert Court Tuesday evening for a subject trying to get into vehicles parked at Overdrive Auto Body. The owner reportedly had confronted the man, identified as 37-year-old transient Christopher Garrett, about trying to get into his vehicles earlier that day but did not call police. He came back later that day, and the owner told officers that he saw Garrett trying the door handles on one of his customer’s vehicles while it was parked around the corner on the 400 block of Kirkwood Boulevard.
When confronted, Garrett reportedly told officers that he had lost his lighter in the area and he was looking for it. He then allegedly changed his story and told them that he was trying to buy one of the vehicles from Overdrive Auto so he could sleep in it. The owner told officers that the two had discussed the subject over a month ago but no agreement was finalized and no cash exchanged hands.
Garrett was charged with attempted vehicle burglary, a serious misdemeanor.