A Deltona man's numerous yard decorations — potted plants, statues and windmills — were artfully arranged and secured by nylon cable ties to a fence to prevent thefts.
The caveat is Dennis Carlo, 66, is accused of stealing all of the plants that he was trying to prevent from being taken.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrested Carlo on Saturday, concluding an investigation that started in mid-August with the first in a string of yard ornament thefts.
The first theft happened Aug. 18. The victim stated several of her potted palm plants had been stolen from her front yard that day and then more potted plants went missing a few days later. Another victim in the same neighborhood reported Aug. 21 that a large angel statue was stolen from his front yard.
Over the next few days, more victims — seven in total — reported missing potted palm trees, potted banana plants, potted crotons and periwinkles and a windmill. But one of the victims had surveillance cameras that captured images of the thief and his car.
Deputies located the Carlo's gold Toyota car Sept. 6 parked in his driveway at a home on Lino Court.
The car was surrounded by a yard full of neatly arranged potted plants, large angel statues and windmills. Contact was made with the Carlo, who was still wearing the same clothes he wore to steal the crotons and periwinkles, deputies said.
Carlo eventually confessed to stealing some of the potted plants.
The recovered plants were found to have been cared for and in good condition. All of the items were returned to their respective owners, and Carlo was arrested on seven counts of theft. He was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.