“Then present your first item,” Judge Gomez said.

Marcus reached into his brown leather briefcase and took out a heavy clear plastic evidence bag.

Inside was the heavy brass padlock, its steel shackle snapped clean in two where my pry bar had struck it in the garage.

“Item one is the heavy brass padlock bought four months ago at the Ace Hardware on 24th Street,” Marcus said, laying a folded paper receipt beside the bag.

Judge Gomez leaned over her bench to look at the receipt.