Employee takes car from repair shop after being fired for stealing, police say

A former employee allegedly took a car from a repair shop after the owner fired him for stealing, according to testimony Tuesday in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Timothy George Mays, 40, pleaded not guilty to burglary and theft by taking motor vehicle. He was ordered held in the Muscogee County Jail after being denied bond on the burglary charge.

Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Superior Court.

Columbus police were called to the Untouchable Auto N Detailing at 4104 Forrest Road on December 24 to investigate a burglary.

The owner told police that his shop was burglarized after he closed it around 7 p.m.

Someone entered the business, ripped the air conditioning unit from the window, and stole the keys to a maroon 2006 Ford Explorer that was under repair. A $139 AutoCraft battery was also stolen.

Police said the suspect cut a hole into the fence and drove the car off the lot.

The owner called authorities the following day and stated that someone informed him that Mays, a former employee, committed the burglary with a man.

Before the break-in, Mays was terminated after allegedly stealing from the shop.

Police questioned the second man about the incident. He said Mays called him and said his car was broken down on U.S. 431 in Phenix City.

Mays allegedly got into the man’s vehicle and placed the battery in the backseat.

“(The man) said that Mays got in and was dropped him off at an unknown location along Highway 431,” the testifying officer said. “(The man) said Mays never offered any incriminating information as far as the battery, the vehicle or what had occurred earlier that night at Untouchable Auto N Detailing.”

Police said found the vehicle abandoned on U.S. 431 and the car battery in the second man’s vehicle.

Warrants were issued for Mays and he was taken into custody on Saturday. The man who told officers he spotted Mays with the stolen car and battery was not named as a suspect in the burglary.

This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Employee takes car from repair shop after being fired for stealing, police say."