Mark Arnold, 50, of Perkasie. (Credit: Perkasie Borough Police Department)
A Perkasie man has been sentenced to probation for stealing items from a home in the borough and later selling them on Facebook Marketplace.
As part of a plea agreement with Bucks County prosecutors, 51-year-old Mark Arnold was sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty to felony counts of burglary and theft by unlawful taking, along with a misdemeanor count of loitering and prowling at nighttime. Additional charges of criminal trespassing and receiving stolen property were dropped as part of the agreement.
Sentencing notes indicate Arnold is prohibited from having contact with the victim, and he must undergo drug and alcohol treatment while on probation.
Police said they were contacted by a man on June 30, 2023 who stated he was helping his family clean out his grandfather’s home when he realized a lawnmower and weedwhacker were missing from the garage. A second lawnmower was also reported missing, as well as a road bicycle.
The total value of stolen items was $7,700, police said.
Later that day, the man contacted police again to report he had located a similar lawnmower and weedwhacker for sale on Facebook Marketplace, with the items being listed by Arnold, according to charging documents. Police said they went to Arnold’s home on Dorchester Drive and observed both lawnmowers in the front yard, and upon making contact with Arnold, they were allegedly directed to the stolen bicycle and weedwhacker inside of a vehicle at his home.
Arnold allegedly told police that he drove by the home around 12:30 a.m. that morning and observed a large sign at the curb stating “free” with items in front of it. Arnold added that he returned to the home approximately one hour later, observed the garage door was open with a light on inside, and he subsequently removed the items, according to the criminal complaint.
Police said Arnold told them since he observed the “free” sign on the curb, he believed everything on the property and inside the garage was free. Arnold added that he knocked on the door and left two notes — one on a vehicle in the driveway and one on the garage door — however the victims said they did not find any notes, according to police.
The criminal complaint notes that the “free” sign on the curb was located 54 feet from the garage door.
Felony charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, and theft by unlawful taking were filed against Arnold on July 3, 2023.
