INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Thieves looted a Ravenswood home last week shortly after flooding ruined the property, adding a second blow to an Indianapolis man’s recovery efforts.

Daren Arterberry rented his house in the Ravenswood neighborhood to his friend, Mike, when the nearby river overflowed. As the water rose, Arterberry urged his friend to evacuate.

“He got out,” Arterberry said. “I told him, ‘Hey, Mike, this is getting bad. You might grab what you can and go,’ and he did.”

Arterberry said the house quickly filled with nearly 3 feet of water. Despite the damage, he remains committed to the area he has called home for 39 years.

“It’s a great neighborhood and we love the river until this kind of stuff happens,” he said.

When Arterberry returned to assess the damage, he found ruined walls and a broken furnace and water heater. He then discovered thieves had broken in and stolen his refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

The theft caused further damage when the looters left the water running after unhooking the washing machine, flooding the garage, again.

“The damage was already done because of the river water that got in there,” Arterberry said. “But yeah, they just made it a little worse on us.”

Arterberry believes the thieves intended to sell the appliances for scrap metal, potentially for as little as $15. He described the act as “as low as you can go,” especially given the widespread devastation in the neighborhood.

Arterberry says he’s not filing a police report. He said he prefers to focus on repairs, noting that he is fortunate to have the resources and friends to help him rebuild.

He warned other flood victims to remain vigilant as they return to their homes.

“Keep your eyes out,” he said. “If you don’t recognize a vehicle, then maybe call IMPD. Just be prepared because it’s probably gonna happen some more.”