Cantonment Man Accused Of Lowe’s Burglary, Riding Mower Theft

June 9, 2023

A Cantonment man is accused of burglarizing a Lowe’s store and stealing a riding lawnmower.

James Robert Harkness, 37, was charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools.

Harkness used bolt cutters to cut a lock on a fenced-in area at Lowe’s on Fairfield Drive about 1:30 a.m. on the morning of May 26, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Video surveillance shows a suspect pull up in a SUV with a utility trailer, lower the ramps and grab bolt cutters. The suspect on video then cuts the lock on the fence and pushes a John Deere lawn mower valued at $2,799 onto the trailer and drives away, the ECSO said.

Using a partial tag number and other instigative techniques, investigators said they were able to identify Harkness as the suspect.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Harkness was also suspected of selling a stolen John Deere riding mower.

Comments

7 Responses to “Cantonment Man Accused Of Lowe’s Burglary, Riding Mower Theft”

  1. Tammy on June 9th, 2023 4:43 pm

    He has no grass to cut on the back yard for all the scraping stuff he has!
    Ooo yea the yard sale a Presser washer ladders and all kinds of tools and light kits never open he goes around late at night shopping at new construction sites!!! The deputy’s need to check his backyard new privacy fence boards that he put up on top of his privacy fence

  2. Oh My on June 9th, 2023 10:48 am

    He just had a yard sale this past weekend. He had a lot of tools available and put that on a sign. Wonder if they were hot…

  3. Susie on June 9th, 2023 10:14 am

    Delusions of JohnDeere.

  4. luap on June 9th, 2023 8:59 am

    ECSO road crews looking for able bodied grass cutters.

  5. TaxPayer on June 9th, 2023 8:42 am

    He must have seen the clips on the news of folks out in California or New York stealing big piles of merchandise without repercussions. Glad to see that stuff doesn’t fly here.

  6. Blue Light Special on June 9th, 2023 7:42 am

    He probably just didn’t understand the self-check-out procedures. Seems that’s all they have now-a-days…

  7. Concerned on June 9th, 2023 7:30 am

    He must’ve really needed to cut his grass!