Woman accused of stealing 4 chainsaws in 3-day crime spree

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A 28-year-old Putnam County woman is accused of taking four chainsaws in a three-day crime spree in July.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said Bettie Mitchell of Interlachen took the chainsaws, which are worth a combined value of $1,296, on July 20-22.

The loss prevention manager of Lowe's noticed the woman leaving the store on four occasions with a chainsaw on surveillance video, and recognized her from a previous encounter. The manager then contacted deputies.

Mitchell was sported entering a vacant home in East Palatka on Aug. 8, PCSO said. The deputy along with four other deputies called her to come out of the home, but she reportedly refused.

The deputies entered the home and found Mitchell hiding in a closet, PCSO said.

Mitchell faces four counts of larceny and two counts of resisting an officer without violence. She is held at the Putnam County Jail on a $15,004 bond.

WJAX