Need advice and also a warning.

What @roccodart440 said about requesting a "civil standby" from the police. If that fails, you can file a small claims case for up to $10,000 in damages, and the filing fee is only about $50. The key part is having the summons personally served on the guy by a process server - that will cost you anywhere from $75 - $200 or more, depending on how slippery the guy is. You don't really want to go to court - the lawsuit is mainly to get the guy's attention and persuade him that he needs to deal fairly with you and return your property promptly.