Eureka Police were able to track down a fire pit and wagon a man said he took from outside a home in the 700 block of Grace View Court because he believed the items were trash, authorities reported.
The victim told police a fire pit, worth $250, and a Gorilla wagon, worth $100, were taken from his front yard between about 5 p.m. Nov. 27 and 8:30 a.m. Nov. 28, police reported.
Using home surveillance systems, Eureka Police identified vehicles that had been seen in the neighborhood collecting scrap metal.
A green Ford Explorer was identified, but the driver of the SUV denied picking up the items, according to the report.
Police also contacted an area recycling center, but no one had tried to recycle the items, the report said.
On Dec. 1, officers contacted the driver of a white Ford F-150, who admitted to taking the items. He told police he believed they were trash because of their proximity to the home’s trash cans, the report said.
The man gave the pit and wagon to the police, and the items were returned to their owner, Capt. David Wilson said.