Derek OttA Jefferson man faces a felony burglary charge for an August incident.

Police Chief Mark Clouse says just after 6pm Thursday, officers arrested 35 year-old Derek Eugene Ott in the 300 block of North Oak Street on a warrant.

Ott was charged with a Class D Felony for third degree burglary after he allegedly stole five Stihl brand weedeaters and three leaf blowers this past August from a residence in the 500 block of North Maple Street. The homeowner noticed Ott pull his vehicle into his driveway, but never came to the front door. A couple days later, the homeowner noticed the tools missing.

Police questioned Ott and he claimed he went to the residence to borrow money, but couldn’t answer why he never went to the front door to ask.

Clouse says the department started using a new program that tracks items that are sold to pawn shops all over the country. He adds that they found that two of the alleged stolen items were found at a pawn shop in Ames. Officers were able to match the items that the homeowner had and it keeps track of the photo identification of who sells the items, along with their thumbprint.

Ott was booked and released from the Greene County jail.