Lancaster city police are trying to find out if residents unknowingly bought stolen property from a city handyman and landscaper in recent months.
John Allen Brubaker Jr., 40, of Lancaster, is facing charges stemming from burglaries in which he allegedly stole equipment from properties he has worked at and later sold the items to city residents.
Lancaster Lt. Charles E. Schmidt said, "We don't know of any other (thefts), but we kind of have a suspicion that there may be more. So that's why we're hoping people would say, 'Hey, I bought a lawnmower from (Brubaker),' or 'I bought a weed whacker off of him,' and we can try and trace it back to where we have another report somewhere else."
On Aug. 6, Detective Toby Hickey charged Brubaker with burglary, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property in connection with items stolen from a garage in the 400 block of North Duke Street.
Brubaker allegedly took a lawnmower, a leaf blower, a weed cutter, a battery charger and other items from the homeowner's garage and sold some of the items to two different women, police said.
Hickey also filed charges of theft and access device fraud in connection with items stolen from a law firm in the 100 block of North Shippen Street.
Police allege Brubaker entered the office July 29 while working as a handyman and stole a wallet containing credit cards and debit cards. He allegedly used the cards to purchase items, including 30 DVDs valued at $127.
Schmidt said Brubaker was a self-employed landscaper and handyman in Lancaster city who allegedly returned to familiar residences and removed items.
It has been difficult to figure out who Brubaker worked for because he was an independent contractor, Schmidt said.
Suspicion fell on Brubaker when one of the customers he was working for began to believe he stole equipment from the owner's shed, Schmidt said. Police questioned him, and he admitted to two of the thefts.
Schmidt said most of the equipment stolen from the two cases in which Brubaker was charged was recovered and returned to the owners.
Brubaker was arraigned Aug. 7 before Magisterial District Judge Maynard Hamilton, who set bail at $10,000 on the burglary charge and $10,000 on the theft charges. He was committed to Lancaster County Prison.
Police said burglaries by handymen are uncommon in the city.
"We have thefts, but this is kind of unique where someone's actually working for people and takes some stuff," Schmidt said.
Police are asking anyone who purchased items from Brubaker to contact Detective Toby Hickey at 735-3300.
E-mail: myoder@lnpnews.com
