Massillon police are looking for leads and asking residents to be on alert in their neighborhoods after a series of lawnmower thefts that are likely connected.
Six police reports from various parts of the city have been filed since June 4. The mowers have been taken from porches, a car port, a garage and backyards.
One of the victims, 72-year-old Len Subach, said his one-year-old lawnmower was stolen from his garage Tuesday either while he was running errands or inside his home.
"Whoever does this kind of thing is a real lousy person," Subach said. "My message would be if I ever caught that person doing it, he'd be in a heap of trouble."
Subach didn't reach the deductible on his insurance policy, so he is out the nearly $600 he paid for a replacement mower.
Massillon Sgt. Nicholas Antonides suspects the thieves are canvassing neighborhoods, lifting the lawnmowers and selling them for scrap.
"We don't know quite yet who is doing it, but it's gonna be one or two people. They probably have a truck or a large van. They're able to quickly get out, grab it, put it in the truck and drive away," Antonides said.
With the serial crooks still out there, Antonides is offering advice to all homeowners who cut their grass.
"Don't leave your equipment in the lawn," he said. "You may forget it's out there and then before you know it, it's gone."
Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call the Massillon Detective Bureau Tip line at 330-830-1735, option 7.
