Garage Sale Ad on Craigslist Leads to Arrest After Novato Victim Recognizes His Stolen Stuff

Deputies arrested a man Sunday morning at a mobile home park near Santa Rosa after he attempted to sell property stolen from a Novato storage facility at a garage sale that he advertised on Craigslist, Sonoma County sheriff's deputies said.

At about 8:20 a.m., sheriff's deputies were dispatched to 3455 Santa Rosa Ave. at Rancho Santa Rosa mobile home park in unincorporated Sonoma County regarding an investigation into stolen property.

A Novato resident reported that he had recently been the victim of a burglary when his belongings were stolen from his storage unit at the Novato Self Storage facility, deputies said.

The victim told deputies he was looking on Craigslist Sunday and found an advertisement for a garage sale in Santa Rosa. He noticed several photos of his property that had been stolen from his storage unit in Novato in the posting, deputies said.

Sheriff's deputies arrived at the garage sale location and contacted the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Santa Rosa resident Ross Hoon.

Hoon was armed with a handgun when deputies approached him.

A search of Hoon's property and residence revealed stolen property.

Deputies said approximately two pick-up truckloads worth of stolen goods were seized. Several stolen firearms and an illegal assault rifle were also seized from Hoon, deputies said.

Hoon admitted that he had conducted the burglaries and that he was selling stolen property at the garage sale. Hoon told deputies that he had formerly been an employee at the storage unit facility in Novato.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Hoon for possession of stolen property, possession of an assault weapon, being armed in the commission of a felony and for carrying a concealed firearm.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office is also following up on the burglary investigation in Novato.
       
--Bay City News