Landscaper Leads Cops to Stolen Property, Two Arrested

A local landscaper helped police nab two men Sunday who allegedly sold him his own equipment after it had been stolen days earlier in West Hempstead.

Nassau County Police arrested Leo Williams, 53, of Uniondale, and Robbie Thomas, 45, of Roosevelt, and charged them both with criminal possession of stolen property.

The landscaper had reported to police that his landscaping tools had been stolen from his truck while parked on Hempstead Avenue in West Hempstead Friday. Then he recalled being approached several weeks ago by Williams, who asked him if he was interested in landscaping purchasing equipment from Thomas, according to police.

The victim arranged a meeting with Thomas and Williams, who showed up with three leaf blowers that had belonged to the victim, which he bought back for an undisclosed amount of cash, police say. The victim then arranged a second meeting with Thomas and Williams on Oct. 16 at the intersection of Hill Street and Brookside Avenue in Uniondale, where detectives placed them under arrest.

Thomas was also found to be in possession of additional stolen landscaping equipment belonging to the victim valued at approximately $4,000, according to cops. Thomas and Williams are each being charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree. Thomas is additionally being charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 3rd Degree and Aggravated Unlicensed 1st (10 Susp).

Both defendants were arraigned Monday in First District Court in Hempstead.