MISHAWAKA — Security camera video shows a woman stealing lights from a Mishawaka yard. Now she’s behind bars after police say a search warrant turned up 165 plants and lawn decorations on her property — although she has not been formally charged.

Police say throughout Saturday, the woman was seen walking up to front porches seeing something she liked and taking off.

Thanks to that security camera and several others, they were able to catch her.

Security cameras caught a woman stealing lawn decorations and plants throughout South Bend and Mishawaka.

“I was so mad,” said Tiffany Yates, theft victim.

As homeowners caught on and started sharing their videos on Facebook, Becky Garza set out to track the woman down.

“It wasn’t about the money, the price or anything. It was just that they had meaning behind it. And I felt bad about that and that much more determined to retrieve her things as well and everyone else she had stolen from,” said Garza.

Garza drove all over the city searching for the woman’s car, before a friend called with a tip.

“I followed her and we went into an apartment complex and sure enough there was the car and it was filled with stolen property in the front and back seat of the car,” said Garza.

After calling the cops, Garza snapped a picture of the woman being arrested.

Using a search warrant, police say they found about 165 different plants and lawn decorations.

Homeowners say they’re still confused by it all.

“Why choose that to steal from other people. We had Amazon packages on our front porch by the door at the time she took our cat,” said Yates.

Yates’ cat has been returned.

She says she was surprised how the neighborhood came together.

“Somebody out of the kindness of their heart sent us a new solar-power cat,” said Yates.

Although the woman hasn’t been charged with a crime, Garza says she feels relieved.

“It made me feel good. I was pretty proud that I followed through with it and she was brought to justice,” said Garza.

An officer we spoke with says if someone believe their items were stolen, they need to file a police report and call the records division to claim the items.

You will need to have proof you are the owner whether it be a photo, bill of sale or can describe it.

The number is 574-258-1681.

Source: WSBT