Leaf Blower Heist: Burglar Pries Into Yarmouth Ace Hardware, Flees with Gear [HN Photos]

        SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS — A brazen burglar broke into an Ace Hardware store late Saturday night, making off with a leaf blower and possibly other items after prying open a rear door, according to sources. The incident unfolded around 10:30 p.m. when patrol officers responded to an alarm at the store on White’s Path. Upon arrival, they discovered signs of forced entry: the back door had been jimmied, and a large black knife—suspected as the tool used—was found discarded on the ground just outside the door. A Barnstable County Sheriff’s crime scene unit arrived to photograph the knife and other evidence inside the store before collecting it for analysis. As officers secured the scene, a Yarmouth Police K-9 unit was deployed to track the suspect, who appeared to have escaped on foot through the rear of the property. The pursuit led to a tense encounter on White’s Path, where police briefly detained a man closely matching the suspect’s description. Surveillance footage from the store depicted the intruder as a thin, white male of smaller build, approximately 5’8″ to 5’9″ tall, clad in a black puffer jacket with a hood, dark pants, and a black face mask covering the lower half of his face. The detained individual, familiar to police from recent interactions, cooperated fully as officers compared him to cellphone-accessed store images. He was quickly cleared and released, allowing the search to continue. Investigators are now reviewing high-quality surveillance footage and processing collected evidence in hopes of identifying the culprit. The value of the stolen leaf blower and any additional items remains unclear, but police emphasize the investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Yarmouth Police at (508) 775-0445. P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is brought to you by Translator… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]