Help Me Rebuild After Car & Band Gear Were Stolen

Support Needed After Car Was Stolen

Dear friends, family, and kind supportive strangers,

My name is Robert Wexler. My friends were going to create a GoFundMe for me, and as embarrassed as I feel asking for help, I thought it best if it came directly from me. I am here to ask for your financial support.

Recently, my car was stolen along with all my tools, band gear, and other valuables. I drove a 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Sport, and one night after band practice, a car pulled up to my house and took my vehicle. I had band practice again the following morning, so I left my gear in my car; my street has normally been safe from these kinds of crimes. I also always keep my tools in my trunk, which has come in handy when I need to help someone change a tire, perform an oil change, hang something up, or lend a helping hand.

The police informed me that thieves have a way to hack into the computer system and create new key fobs. They then sell the car to chop shops, where it is dismantled for parts or sometimes sent overseas to be repurposed with a "new" VIN. The police mentioned that they are currently targeting Hondas, as a CR-V in my neighborhood was also taken the same night.

It is unfortunate how much crime like this impacts people's lives. A car is often the second-largest purchase anyone makes. For me, my car was not only my means of transportation but also my job. I have been an Uber driver for the past seven years, and it was my primary source of income. I also worked part-time for various friends’ construction companies, and since all my tools were in my trunk, I am now out of those jobs as well. With the help of a cosigner, I just financed the car last year and still owe $29,000. Thankfully, I have full coverage and gap insurance; however, my company does not cover the items within the car, and my credit is not good enough to get another vehicle. After I pay the deductible, I will be without a car, a job, and all my cherished belongings. I don't think people who steal cars consider how deeply this impacts someone's livelihood.

I am not asking for money to fund a new vehicle, as I could never ask for that much, even for a beater. What I am asking for is assistance to cover my band gear and hopefully my tools. I have been a musician my whole life since I was five years old. I am a multi-instrumentalist and have participated in jazz orchestras in school as well as at the Kimmel Center. Music means everything to me; it is my means of connection and creativity in this beautiful world. I am currently a bass player in a band called Tall Bones and fill in for various acts at open mics weekly. I was starting a new funk project with some good friends, and now I can no longer contribute. That is why I am asking for your help.

Here’s a semi-detailed list of my belongings that were in my car:

Tools - around $1,500

• Drills

• Multiple batteries

• Charger

• Torque wrench

• Jacks

• Jumper cables

• Impact and drill sets

• Socket wrench set

• Breaker bars

• Wrench set

• Screwdrivers

Music Gear - around $3,950

• Pedalboard - $80

• Patch cables & MXR iso pro power supply (pedals, speakon, instrument) - $450

• Bassbone Overdrive DI pedal - $450

• Black Hole Reverb Pedal - $250

• Walrus Reverb Pedal - $110

• Source Audio Spectrum Pedal - $220

• Markbass Super Synth Pedal - $100

• Genzler Re/Q Pedal - $240

• Aguilar Mini Bass Preamp DB 925 Pedal - $150

• Aguilar Mini Compressor DB 599 Pedal - $170

• Snark Sn10 Tuner Pedal - $30

• Markbass MB58R 102 Energy Bass Cabinet - $750

• Markbass Little Mark IV Amplifier Head - $650

• 5 String Yamaha Bass (one of the last instruments I bought with my dad before he passed away) - $300

Other belongings in my car included my books, bag, cologne, chargers, clothing, and more items I'm realizing are gone as time goes on. Unsure of a total for these belongings.

Total Estimate: $5,450

• Total of band gear: around $3,950

• Total of tools: around $1,500

Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a tremendous difference in my life. I will be able to continue contributing to this world through my passion for music. I appreciate your support, whether through donations or by sharing my story with others. Thank you for being there during this difficult time. Your kindness means the world to me, and if there is any way I can help you, please don't hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Robert Wexler