Professional photographer Shad Pipes of Fort Walton Beach will have most of the $43,000 worth of equipment stolen from him in October returned following the arrest of two men Thursday.
Arrested were Michael Dakota Austin, 23 and Donald Joseph Lowe, 27, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Austin is charged with burglary and theft. Lowe is charged with dealing in stolen property.
Pipes reported Oct. 23 that someone stole $43,603 worth of camera equipment from his vehicle, an arrest report said.
He actually found the stolen merchandise for sale on Ebay and notified the Sheriff’s Office, the report said.
Investigators were able to locate Lowe, who told them he bought the equipment not knowing it was stolen.
“Lowe was less than totally honest with us,” the report said.
Lowe did lead deputies to Austin, who admitted he stole Pipes’ equipment, the report said.
Austin also implicated Lowe.
“He stated that Lowe asked if the equipment was stolen and he replied that it was,” the report said.
Authorities were able to confiscate about $36,242 of the equipment.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.
