PARADISE, Calif. - A tree trimmer in Paradise has his saw back thanks to surveillance video and fast police work.
Police responded to the Ponderosa Gardens Motel located at 7010 Skyway on June 23 at about 10:45 a.m. regarding the theft of a chainsaw from the bed of a pickup truck.
The victim, a tree trimmer, left his chainsaw in his vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot for the night. When he went out in the morning, he discovered his chainsaw was missing.
An officer reviewed surveillance footage of the parking lot and observed a man taking the chainsaw from the truck during the night.
The victim's coworkers were provided a description of the suspect. About 2 hours later, the victim called the Paradise Police Department again to report his coworkers saw a man on Paige Lane who matched the suspect description and was in possession of a chainsaw.
Officer Mayhugh responded to the location and contacted Carey Issac Gay III in a travel trailer on the property.
The stolen chainsaw was located on the property. Police say Gay rented a room at the motel the evening of the theft and the theft was consistent with a crime of opportunity.
The value of the chainsaw was estimated at $1,400.00 dollars. Gay was arrested on grand theft and possession of stolen property and was booked into Butte County Jail.