Handyman Accused of Stealing Equipment from Couple in Hilltown

Keith Heffintrayer | North Penn Now•

A local handyman has been charged with felony theft after he allegedly stole "pump ladder jacks” from a couple in Hilltown Township.

The investigation began in November 2023, after a couple went to the Hilltown Township Police Station to report an alleged theft. The couple told police they became power of attorney over a deceased relative’s property in early 2022, and had used a handyman to perform various work at the property since that time.

The handyman, identified in court documents as 58-year-old Donald Kobrzynski, of Chalfont, reportedly expressed interest in items on the property, which the couple referred to as "pump ladder jacks,” according to the criminal complaint. Kobrzynski asked if he could use the jacks for a project at his home, and also suggested the couple trade him the jacks for work he had completed for them, but they instead agreed to allow him to use them temporarily with the "explicit” intention they were returned, police said.

Kobrzynski borrowed the jacks in May 2023, and several months later asked the couple if he was borrowing them or if they were given to him, the report states. The couple replied that he was only borrowing them, but the jacks were never returned and Kobrzynski stopped responding to efforts to have the jacks returned, police said.

The complaint notes the jacks had a value of $6,000.

Investigators spoke with Kobrzynski, who stated he was holding onto the jacks until he received payment he claimed he was owed from the couple, according to charging documents. He then ceased responding to efforts by police to contact him, police said.

After consultation with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, a single felony theft charge was filed against Kobrzynski on Jan. 30. He was arraigned on the charge on Feb. 9, at which time bail was set at $10,000 unsecured.

His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on March 26 at 1:30 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.