A Pershing Street resident's suspicions about a man who exited a car parked in the driveway of a vacant house resulted in the arrest of two Massachusets men for burglary.
The resident called police at 6:46 p.m. Sunday to report the man who got out of the car at 3 Pershing St. appeared to be carrying bolt cutters.
According to police spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa Cotto, when officers arrived they found the back door open and noted the door and door frame appeared damaged.
They entered and found the living room in disarray, with a large pair of garden sheers on the floor. Hearing voices in the house, the officers announced their presence and located two men in the kitchen, which was also in disarray.
The officers drew their pistols, handcuffed the men and escorted them outside. There was no one else in the house, Cotto said.
One of the men, later identified as Scott Paakki, told the officers he mows the lawn for the homeowners. Asked why he was in the house, Paaki allegedly said he's also supposed to check inside when he's there.
The officers reported they asked Paakki to give them his key to the house, but the one he provided didn't work on any of the exterior doors. Cotto said he then allegedly told the officers he didn't know where the house key was, but he entered through the unlocked front door.
An officer checked and found the front door locked, Cotto said.
Paakki then allegedly told the officers he entered the house to look for his wallet, which he left there the last time he mowed the lawn. Asked why he was carrying a flashlight, he reportedly said to help locate his wallet, Cotto said.
The officers reported power to the house was on and the lamps worked.
Paakki, 37, and Timothy Bernat, 32, both of Gardner, Mass., were charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, manufacture or possesssion of burglar tools, conspiracy to manufacture or possess burglary tools, third-degree criminal trespassing, conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal tresspassing, criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief.
Both were held on $5,000 bond and given court dates of Aug. 24.
