Man Sets Up Makeshift Camp Next Door Using Neighbor’s Shed Loot
In a bizarre twist on “borrowing from the neighbors,” Jonathan Castle was arrested after authorities discovered he had been living in a makeshift campsite next door, fully furnished with items stolen from the sheds of his unsuspecting neighbor, Dennis Patrick Donegan.
The incident began unraveling when Donegan noticed his two sheds had been burglarized sometime between June 29 and October 11, 2024. The burglar entered through a hole in the roof of one shed, while the door to the second was simply ripped off. Missing items? A curious mix of household goods, including a $50 foot massager, a $150 tent, hedge clippers, a space heater, and an assortment of clothes and shoes.
Castle, whose campsite was discovered just behind his neighbor’s property at 4700 SE 160th Court, had apparently set up his outdoor living quarters with Donegan’s belongings. Authorities found the stolen tent, complete with the victim’s clothing, shoes, and even the foot massager tucked neatly inside.
When confronted, Castle claimed he only entered the shed once, looking for food. However, the discovery of a well-trodden path from the sheds to his camp—and the stolen items themselves—suggested otherwise. Castle admitted to taking the clothes and shoes but denied involvement with the hedge clippers, maintaining that he was just a one-time shed visitor.
Despite his unusual choice of living arrangements and amenities, Castle now faces charges for burglary and petit theft. As local deputies reflect on the situation, one thing is clear: Castle wasn’t just camping out—he was making himself right at home.
