GNOME INVASION: Woman accused of stealing lawn creature

Maricopa Police Department arrested a woman accused of trying to break into a house and car before stealing a lawn gnome Friday morning. 

Police arrested 27-year-old Sage E. Owens near a home in Rancho El Dorado after multiple reports she was causing trouble in the neighborhood, according to a probable cause statement obtained by InMaricopa. 

Cops responded to a home on North Anne Lane around 8 a.m. after the homeowner reported Owens, clad in a grey beanie, was trying to enter his home. The man told police Owens spray-painted his doorbell camera and tried to climb through his front window. 

The homeowner told police when he yelled at Owens through his doorbell, she tried to break into his parked Toyota before leaving. 

A neighbor called 9-1-1 and said Owens stole a garden gnome from her front door. 

Cops found Owens nearby with a can of black spray paint and a gnome on her person. She told police she was not the person they were looking for and that she let someone borrow her clothing. 

Owens was booked into the Pinal County jail on two felony charges of burglary and trespassing. She was also slapped with two misdemeanor counts of criminal damage and theft. 

She faces more than 13 years in prison. 

Read more public safety stories here.