Crime & Safety

Car Left Running Becomes Grand Theft Auto

The stolen vehicle belonged to a Mall of Georgia Honda employee.

A Mall of Georgia Honda employee said he was preparing to leave work on Sept. 29 when a suspect walked onto the auto retailer’s parking lot and stole his vehicle.

The employee said he left his car running next to the shop while he went inside the building for a brief period. A few minutes later, he noticed a man walking in the parking lot. Believing the man to possibly be a customer, the employee waved at the man and the man waved back.

A few moments later, the employee heard a vehicle shift into gear and then heard the sound of squealing tires. The employee walked outside in time to see the man he thought was a customer driving away in the employee’s vehicle at a high rate of speed.

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The suspect is described as a white male in his early- to mid-30s, approximately 5-foot-11 with brown hair and weighing 150-165 pounds. At the time of the theft, the male was wearing a black baseball style hat, white t-shirt, blue or black pants and was carrying a black backpack. The suspect’s left arm was covered in what the employee described as a sleeve tattoo.

The stolen vehicle is a 1999 4-door Nissan Altima with tinted windows, a rear spoiler, yellow aftermarket fog lights and a chrome license plate with “Navy” in blue letters. The vehicle has an estimated value of $4,000.

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The case is listed as active.


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