The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a local pool cleaner for stealing bronze lawn statues and scrapping them for cash.

Detectives say Jason McMahon, DOB 10/23/71, 3312 West 37th Street, Bradenton, stole $8,500 worth of bird statues from at least three homes on Siesta Key and in Prestancia. He has been charged with one count of Grand Theft for each case. The Sarasota Police Department has also charged McMahon in a similar case, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is pursuing charges for scrapping the statues there.

“This is a prime example of the level of desperation that is driving local crime,” said Sheriff Tom Knight. “People addicted to prescription drugs will steal just about anything to fund their habit, and he was getting about $100 for each statue despite their actual value.”

Detectives have actually recovered more statues than were reported stolen, so if your lawn ornament is missing and you didn’t report the crime, or you believe a neighbor who is not in town suffered a similar loss, contact Criminal Investigations at 941-861-4901.