A 26-year-old man from Saratoga is suspected of answering an ad for a $20,000 guitar in San Benito County and fleeing with it.
On Sunday, Mark M. Ellis answered an ad on Craigslist for the $20,000 guitar.
According to a statement released Wednesday from the sheriff’s office, the man arrived at the owner’s home at Vineyard Estates and played the guitar before the supposed purchase. But then the suspect fled with the guitar without paying.
The sheriff’s office was called and started an investigation. On Monday, detectives used information developed from patrol deputies and identified the man, tracking him to his parents’ home in Saratoga, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies traveled to Saratoga and arrested Ellis. While on the porch, they saw the guitar in the man’s bedroom through an open window. Deputies recovered the guitar and returned it to the victim Tuesday night.
Ellis was booked into the San Benito County Jail on recommended charges of burglary and grand theft, and was later released on bail.
Photo of Ellis playing guitar courtesy of the sheriff’s office
Suspect accused of taking $20k guitar in Craigslist exchange
