A 56-year-old Cedar Hill man reportedly was found with 12 used golf cart batteries stolen from an auto dealership. The man allegedly was trying to recycle the batteries, which were valued at a combined $240, Eureka Police said.
At about 4 p.m. July 19, officers were called to Scoreboard Automotive, 1375 W. Fifth St., and the dealership’s owner told police the batteries, which were worth $20 each, were stolen from his business. The theft occurred at about 5:45 p.m. July 17, the report said.
Surveillance video reportedly showed the man driving a 2005 Jeep Liberty and stealing the batteries. The Cedar Hill man is friends with another man who rents an apartment behind the dealership. The man who lives in the apartment was described as a “scrapper” and allegedly told police that his friend was at his home on July 17, according to the report.
An officer went to Earthbound Recycling, 25 Truitt Drive, to see if anyone had tried to recycle the batteries. An employee told the officer the business does not accept golf cart batteries, but while checking with another employee to see if someone had attempted to recycle the batteries, the officer spotted the Jeep allegedly shown in the surveillance video, the report said.
The officer followed the Jeep to the Circle K gas station, 100 Old Towne Drive, and found the driver inside the business. The driver allegedly asked the officer if he was being detained because of the batteries, and the officer said yes and arrested the man, according to the report.
The man was taken to the Police Station, where he was booked and released after being issued a summons to appear in Eureka Municipal Court for stealing. The Jeep was towed from the gas station, and officers allegedly found the 12 golf cart batteries in the SUV, and they were returned to Scoreboard Automotive, Lt. Michael Werges said.