From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at about 5:15 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a residential burglary that occurred on Hill Lane in Hydesville. Deputies arrived on scene and spoke with a male victim. The victim told deputies he was driving on Hill Lane to his residence when he passed a black Toyota Tacoma, extra cab, towing a black utility trailer. In the trailer was a riding lawn mower and a refrigerator. The victim recognized the property as his own. The victim returned home and discovered numerous items missing such as a riding lawnmower, refrigerator, dishwasher, pressure washer, several firearms, numerous tools, clothing, a weed-eater, ammunition, and other items.

During the course of the investigation, the black Toyota Tacoma was located with the stolen refrigerator in the bed of the truck. Deputies contacted 31 year old Benjamin Keath North and 34 year old Tiffany Nicole Deveraux. Per North’s parolee status, deputies searched his residence on Perras Court in Fortuna. Almost all of the stolen property from the burglary was located inside the residence. Deputies also located drug paraphernalia, a small amount of suspected methamphetamine, and indicia for both North and Deveraux. The riding lawn mower, a revolver, and other items were still outstanding. The recovered property was returned to the victim.

North and Deveraux were arrested and taken to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. They were booked for burglary, possession of stolen property, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. North was placed on a parole hold. Deveraux was additionally booked for an outstanding warrant for domestic violence.

Deputies continued investigating this incident on Thursday, June 2nd. The stolen lawn mower was located at a residence on Fischer Rd in Hydesville. The lawn mower was returned to the owner. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.