20-03-2025
Victims find stolen lawn care equipment for sale online, suspect arrested
ST. LOUIS – After having lawn care equipment stolen from their garage last week, a south St. Louis couple found their property being sold online and alerted police.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the theft happened early in the morning on Saturday, March 15, in the 5200 block of Tholozan Avenue, in the city's North Hampton neighborhood.
The couple told police that one victim left for work around 5:40 a.m. from their garage. At 7 a.m., the other left for work and noticed the garage door was still opening. Thinking her husband forgot to close it, she closed it and drove to work.
When the husband returned home around 4 p.m., he discovered pieces of lawn care equipment had been stolen from the garage: an E-Go string trimmer, an E-Go blower, an E-Go battery, and an E-Go charger.
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The victims found the stolen equipment for sale on Facebook Marketplace and contacted police.
A St. Louis police detective arranged to meet with the person selling the items, identified as James F. Deatherage, 35. On March 18, police arrived at the meet-up location and saw Deatherage holding the stolen items.
Police took Deatherage into custody. Police said Deatherage admitted to stealing the items from the couple's garage.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Deatherage with second-degree burglary and stealing – $750 or more. Deatherage remains jailed without bond. His next court date was not listed in online records at the time of publication.
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