In what Richmond County police say might be the worst return for a theft they've seen, two Augusta men reportedly received just a few hundred dollars for a pile of steel originally worth more than $80,000.
Glenn Harlan Stacy, 56, and Timothy Chester Rogers, 47, who were living in the Relax Inn at 1351 Gordon Highway, were each charged Friday with felony theft by receiving stolen property after being accused of selling 112 pieces of stolen stainless steel reinforcement pads to a recycling center just 600 feet from where the metal was reported stolen days before, sheriff's Investigator Aaron Hannsz said.
The base price of the pads, which were taken from A&A Construction Co. at 940 Molly Pond Road, are worth an estimated $83,805, Investigator Hannsz said.
Police say the suspects received just $359.20 for the pieces when they brought them in Jan. 5 and 7 to sell at Newell's Recycling, located at 960 Molly Pond Road.
The difference in prices is because the individual cuts of steel were made to order, while the recycling center simply gives money by the pound, Investigator Hannsz said.
"These things aren't made in mass. They are only made by the fabricator when they are required," he said. "They are going to take the size, shape and dimensions you want and then ship it to you. Then, of course, when it's done and made, they're going to give you a retail cost."
Investigator Hannsz said police were alerted to the theft by the owner of A&A Construction, who tracked the metal to the nearby recycling yard.
Mr. Stacy and Mr. Rogers were identified by employees of the business as having sold the pads, authorities said. The suspects contend they found them on the side of the road, and police are not sure whether they actually stole the metal from the business, Investigator Hannsz said.
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
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