Authorities on Friday charged a man for receiving items stolen during a rash of garage burglaries in his northeast Minneapolis neighborhood.

Ross Alexander Kelly, 26, was charged after a witness said he was seen last month taking a weed trimmer and bike from a garage on the 3500 block of 2 1/2 Street NE.

According to charges, Kelly lives in the Columbia Park neighborhood within two blocks of eight of the garage burglaries reported in the neighborhood between Dec. 28 and Jan. 2.

On Thursday, police searched his home and found stolen items including: a kerosene heater, lawn mower, weed trimmer, circular saw and gas analyzer kit. In total the items were valued at more than $3,000.

While he was being arrested, Kelly said, "This explains how I got the tools so cheap."

Later, Kelly told police that he had received the items from other people. He said they were probably stolen.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495; Twitter: @stribnorfleet