Surveillance video shows Florida man concealing chainsaw by putting it down his shorts

An accused chainsaw thief in Florida employed a simple plan that involved nothing more than his shorts, shirt and a calm demeanor.

Surveillance video captured on Oct. 28 inside Treasure Coast Lawn Equipment in Port St. Lucie, Fla., shows a man concealing a Stihl chainsaw, valued at $619 — which does not appear to be spinning — in his shorts and tucking his shirt over the top as a store clerk sits nearby.

TCPalm.com reports that store employees, who can be seen in the video, chased the man, identified as 28-year-old Anthony Ballard, and called police. As police searched the area for Ballard and the chainsaw, which he had ditched after her fled on a reportedly stolen bicycle, one of the employees spotted him in a wooded lot nearby. The employee confronted Ballard and held him until police arrived.

Although police said he told officers that he had a “change of heart” and dumped the chainsaw, Ballard was arrested on a grand theft charge. Ballard was taken to county jail. He is also being held on a theft warrant issued by another county, according to Port St. Lucie police.

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