
After allegedly stealing his grandmother’s lawnmower and staging a robbery after selling it on Facebook, a Union County man in North Carolina, United States,is now facing charges.
After allegedly stealing his grandmother’s lawnmower and staging a robbery after selling it on Facebook, a Union County man is now facing charges.
According to WCNC,Charlotte,an armed robbery on Landsford Road,Marshville,was reported last week, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office responded. Twenty-eight-year-old Tyler Helms, the person who dialed 911, informed dispatchers that he was in a truck with two men when they robbed him at gunpoint and stole his grandmother’s John Deere lawn machine.
Before phoning 911 to report a fake robbery, deputies said,the suspect rolled around in the mud to give the impression that he had been in a struggle with robbers.
Deputies soon became suspicious of Helms’ account as he offered to phone the “robbers” to request that they return the mower.Deputies were shown Facebook Marketplace communications indicating that Tyler had sold them the lawnmower by two males who arrived a few minutes later. After being found by deputies, the mower was given back to its original owner.
Helms was arrested and is facing several counts, including felony theft, gaining property via deception, and making a false report to law enforcement.