CIRCLEVILLE, OH – A weeks-long investigation into a brazen daytime theft ended Tuesday afternoon when Circleville Police apprehended a local man linked to a stolen 2025 Cub Cadet riding mower.
The suspect, Matthew Bickers, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Receiving Stolen Property after being spotted in a vehicle near downtown Circleville.
The Theft and the Digital Trail
The case began on March 31, 2026, when a local business on US-23 reported that a yellow 54-inch deck riding mower had been stolen from a fenced-in area. Surveillance footage from the business showed two individuals in black clothing cutting a lock on March 28 and driving the mower away.
The break in the case came several days later, on April 6, when a resident provided police with Blink camera footage from a home on Sumpter Avenue. The video showed Bickers riding a yellow mower through the neighborhood around 8:00 PM on April 4.
The “Hidden” Mower
Using the video evidence, Officer Benjamin Tosca and Sgt. Mays tracked Bickers to a residence at 410 1/2 E. Main St. Upon arrival, officers spotted a lawn mower in the backyard concealed under a sheet.
According to police reports, when confronted, Bickers removed the sheet to reveal a yellow 2025 Cub Cadet. Bickers initially claimed the landlord had purchased the mower for the property. However, investigators contacted the property owners, Jim and Pam Hill, who stated they had not purchased a mower and noted that Bickers was not even supposed to be living at that address.
Bickers’ story allegedly shifted during the encounter, first claiming the mower was “dropped off by a vehicle” before eventually admitting he had been riding it.
Verification and Arrest
After matching the engine and frame serial numbers to the mower stolen on US-23, police impounded the equipment. A warrant was subsequently issued for Bickers’ arrest.
On the afternoon of April 21, officers spotted Bickers as a passenger in a brown Buick traveling westbound on Main Street. Officer Eric Massie initiated a traffic stop in front of First Check Cash Advance, where Bickers was detained. After confirming the active warrant for Receiving Stolen Property, Bickers was arrested and transported to the Pickaway County Jail.
The mower has been recovered and returned to the station for processing.
Police Note: This investigation was assisted by residential surveillance technology. Circleville residents are encouraged to share footage with the CPD when they witness suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
