A naked homeless man fled the Hill Section home of a Lackawanna County magisterial district judge on a stolen bicycle early Wednesday, pulling a hand truck behind him, police charge.
David Heck, 62, was caught on camera entering a latched shed behind the Taylor Avenue residence at about 2 a.m., from which he removed an e-bike, a mountain bicycle and a hand truck, police said.
Magisterial District Judge Alyce Farrell woke up to rearranged patio furniture, a ceramic vase containing flowers ripped from her garden and discarded men’s clothing, according to a criminal complaint.
Farrell told police the man helped himself to a beer from an outdoor mini-fridge in addition to taking items from the shed and damaging her property.
She showed officers Ring camera footage of Heck leaving the scene at about 2 a.m., riding one of the bicycles and pulling the hand truck behind him. He wore only a bike helmet, also taken from the shed.
The e-bike was recovered on Pine Street, Farrell told police.
An Apple AirTag attached to one of the bicycles pinged in a wooded area nearby.
Officers found Heck wearing the bike helmet, pool goggles and a purple crop top, with a flannel shirt wrapped around his waist. A pipe containing methamphetamine residue was sitting in front of him.
He was arrested without incident.
Police recovered a blue cooler containing wrenches and other tools, as well as the stolen bike hidden nearby.
Heck repeatedly asked officers who caught him to let him go. He said he had only been goofing around and had minded his own business, police said.
Officers noted Heck appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine. He was rambling and not making sense.
Heck is charged with felony burglary, criminal trespass and theft, and misdemeanor loitering and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Paul Ware and remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19 before Ware.