A Eustis man was arrested for burglary after a bystander saw him take a $1,000 package off someone’s doorstep.
A witness flagged down a deputy when he saw 44-year-old Jason Timothy Phillips steal a package from the front door of a residence on County Road 473 in Leesburg around 5:05 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He had just ridden a bicycle eastbound on California Street, where he was shortly after stopped.
Phillips was nervous when asked about his recent whereabouts but granted the deputy permission to search his backpack. The deputy then found two boxes containing HexClad knives and a HexClad knife block. Phillips claimed to have bought them at a yard sale, the report said.
However, the witness later reiterated that he saw Phillips take the packages from the front door of a residence. He then tossed the shipping box behind a nearby fence, which was later found, the report said.
The deputy subsequently spoke to the homeowner, who was out of state, over the phone. The homeowner confirmed the stolen items were worth about $1,000, the report said.
Phillips was arrested on charges of burglary of a dwelling and grand theft. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $3,500.