A pair of fake Craigslist ads led to a Jacksonville man being stripped of almost all of his belongings. The ads claimed that the homeowner's possessions were all free for the taking, as he had allegedly been forced to suddenly leave the area.

Robert Salisbury said that the two ads announced that all his possessions were free to anyone who wanted them - an invitation that resulted in a flurry of people coming to his home and taking his material things.

According to the UPI, the items that were taken included a porch swing, ladders, a weed whacker and other gardening tools. Salisbury said that he tried to explain that there had to have been some mistake, but the people were adamant about their rights to claim whatever they wanted.

They brandished printouts of the ads for their defense.

The authorities were alerted after a woman who saw the ads thought of claiming Salisbury's horse, but wanted to be sure of the ad's legitimacy. She called Salisbury, in the process informing him about the two ads.

Police were notified, and eventually some of the takers brought Salisbury's possessions back.

"Some people did return things," said Salisbury, according to the Mail Tribune. "May be that will urge others to do it."

According to the authorities, anyone knowingly holding on to any of Salisbury's possessions could possibly face criminal charges.

The people responsible for the hoax ads could face burglary charges.