Two Arrested in Commercial Lawnmower Theft 9-1-16
Incident/Complaint#: 50-16-29171
Date/Time: Tuesday, August 30th, 2016 at 5:07AM
Location: Pugh’s Service, 728 Leipsic Road, Dover, DE
Officer Releasing Information: M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer
Narrative:
Two men were arrested after stealing a utility trailer from a local residence and then attempting to steal lawnmowers from Pugh’s Service at 728 Leipsic Road in Dover. Officers responded to Pugh’s on Tuesday morning at 5:07AM after a caller reported that two men may be trying to steal lawn mowers from the business. Officers arrived and found a black Ford Expedition with a trailer located in the Comfort Inn and Suites parking lot, next to Pugh’s. Officers contacted David Nicholas (44) and Paul Rowan (46) inside the vehicle. The trailer had a lawnmower valued at $9,800, aluminum ramps, and bolt cutters. Officers discovered that two holes were cut in the chain fence surrounding Pugh’s property and a chain was also damaged that secured gates to the sales lot. Officers also located another mower valued at $7,999 outside of the fenced in lot that the suspects were intending to put on the trailer as well. Officers then learned through further investigation that the trailer that the suspects were using had been stolen from an address on West Denney’s Road between August 29th and August 30th. Both suspects were arrested without incident. Nicholas was found to be in possession of a bag containing trace amounts of cocaine as well.
David Nicholas was released after posting $3,900 secured bond on the following charges:
-Possession of Burglary Tools
-Theft over $1,500
-Conspiracy 2nd Degree
-Receiving Stolen Property
-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
-Criminal Mischief
-Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree
Paul Rowan was committed to JTVCC on a $3,900 secured bond on the following charges:
-Possession of Burglary Tools
-Theft over $1,500
-Conspiracy 2nd Degree
-Receiving Stolen Property
-Criminal Mischief
-Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree
-Local Fugitive (capias)