Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jason Randell Dowling Sr., 39, of Middleburg, was arrested September 18 after he allegedly stole more than $500 worth of merchandise from Lowe’s and pawned the items shortly afterward. He has since been charged in four additional cases involving the alleged theft and pawning of tools.
A Gainesville Police Department detective later reviewed Dowling’s recent pawn activity and found what investigators described as an unusual number of brand-new tools being sold at pawn shops. Some reportedly remained in their original retail packaging, while others had been removed from the boxes but showed no signs of use.
According to the detective’s report, Dowling made 17 separate sales at three local pawn shops between September 6 and September 18, 2026. Those transactions involved 31 new tools. After expanding the review to include activity dating back to early June 2026, the detective found that 55 tools had been sold to local pawn shops.
The detective also noted that Dowling was unemployed.
Investigators provided Lowe’s and Home Depot loss-prevention officers with a list of the pawned tools and the dates they were sold. Those officers are reviewing surveillance footage from the corresponding dates.
Surveillance video from September 6 reportedly shows Dowling entering the Lowe’s store on NW 13th Street and selecting two flashlights valued at $129 each, a $129 task light and a $219 job-site radio. He allegedly left the store without paying. About 20 minutes later, all four items were sold at a pawn shop.
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In another incident, video reportedly shows Dowling entering the same Lowe’s location on September 14, taking a job-site radio valued at $219 and leaving without paying. The radio was allegedly sold at a pawn shop roughly 20 minutes later.
On September 15, surveillance video reportedly captured Dowling selecting a $219 job-site radio and a $170 socket set at the NW 13th Street Lowe’s. He allegedly walked out without paying, and the two items were sold at a pawn shop approximately 15 minutes later.
After his arrest, Dowling reportedly told investigators that he had been stealing tools from stores and selling them to pawn shops “because he is on hard times.”
Dowling currently faces five counts of dealing in stolen property, four counts of fraudulently pawning items, four counts of petit theft and one count of theft. His criminal record includes four felony convictions, one of them violent, along with four misdemeanor convictions, three of which were violent. On September 19, he told Court Services that he lived in Interlachen, although his listed address is in Middleburg, and said he had been in Alachua County for one day. The detective’s report, however, states that Dowling had been selling stolen tools since June. Dowling also said he had worked for an air conditioning company for 21 years. His bail was set at $210,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
