Arrest in the Theft of an $11,500 Riding Mower

An Oxford man turned himself in on a warrant Friday charging him in the April 10 theft of an $11,500 riding mower.

John Mazako, 32, of Upson Drive was charged with second-degree larceny and released on a promise to appear in court on June 7.

On April 10 an Easton woman reported the theft of a wall-mounted TV from her master bedroom and a SCAG Turf Tiger mower from her garage, according to the report.

Police said there was a key break in the case when the woman called the place she bought the mower from - Brandman's Power Equipment in Norwalk - to ask for the serial number.

An employee there recalled talking to someone from Chatfield Power Equipment in Southbury, who told him there was a suspicious incident of a man parking way in the back of their lot to show the store a riding mower he told them he had picked up from a house in Easton, according to the report.

Police said the Chatfield employee thought the incident was odd, so he jotted down the serial number on the mower - which matched the one stolen from Easton.

Police said the man, John Mazako, was known to the Chatfield employees and that Oxford police later verified that the mower was at Mazako's home.

An Easton police officer seized the stolen mower before Mazako's arrest, according to the report.