Man nabbed in sting set up by neighbors

August 22, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Police said a West Side couple arranged a meeting Thursday with a man accused of stealing their electronic tablet, where he was arrested.

John Zucco, 34, of Manhattan Avenue, is in the Mahoning County jail on a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property and a larceny warrant from Boardman police. His bond was set at $5,000 by Magistrate Anthony Sertick after his arraignment in municipal court Friday.

Reports said police were called to a home in the 1700 block of Manhattan Avenue, where the couple told them Zucco knocked on their door about 1:15 p.m. and told them two men were in their backyard and they appeared to be staking out their house to break in.

Reports said the husband went outside to look while Zucco stayed inside. The man found no one in the backyard but the couple then discovered their tablet was missing after Zucco left.

Reports said the wife went on Facebook and saw the tablet advertised for sale on a local buy and trade website posted by Zucco. The wife then had a friend contact Zucco online and arrange to meet at the Mahoning Plaza, where she would buy the tablet for $60, reports said.

The couple called police instead, who went to the meeting at 4 p.m. and found Zucco at the plaza carrying a tablet.

Zucco was taken into custody on the warrant from Boardman after a records check. Reports said the serial number on the tablet Zucco was carrying matched the serial number of the tablet that was stolen.

Assistant City Prosecutor Shelli Freeze told Magistrate Sertick that Zucco has a history of theft offenses. He has a probation violation hearing Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on unrelated charges.

As part of his bond, Zucco must stay away from the home from which he is accused of taking the tablet. If he posts bond, he will be placed on house arrest.

Zucco told Magistrate Sertick he did not have a job because he has lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.