Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
Guitar stolen
A guitar was the only thing reported missing after burglars broke into a Martinez home.
Jackie Lynn Romig, 47, of the 4300 block of Roswell Drive, told police her son, Michael Stephen Roming, 23, came home from work Friday afternoon to find the garage door open and front door unlocked, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report. There were scrape marks on the siding around the front door handle, indicating that the door might have been pried open, the report stated.
//
The dead-bolted door to a bedroom was kicked in and a $900 Fender Stratocaster was taken, according to the report, which stated that cash sitting next to the guitar on a bed was left untouched.
The Romigs reported that they were not immediately sure if anything else was taken but said they would prosecute if suspects were identified.
Thieves steal tire rims
Burglars broke into a Martinez paint and body shop early Friday morning and took more than $2,300 worth of rims from a customer's vehicle.
John Henry Saxon, 63, owner of Columbia Paint and Body at 4134 Wheeler Road told police that someone broke into his shop, backed up a 2002 Dodge Dakota from a jack to an elevated lift and took tires and 20-inch chrome rims from the truck, owned by Shaun Dwayne Minyard, 26, of Augusta, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report. The rims were secured with locking lug nuts, and the key was hidden inside the vehicle, the report stated.
Saxon told police he thinks the burglars were familiar with his shop or similar equipment because they knew how to operate the lift.
The shop's last employee that night left at 12:30 a.m. after locking the gate and unleashing a Rottweiler security dog, the report stated. Saxon told police that when he arrived Friday morning, the gate was still locked, and there was no damage to the barbed-wire fence.
Saxon said he would prosecute if suspects are identified.
Ordered parts never arrived
A Harlem woman ordered and paid for vehicle parts, but never saw them.
Toni Michelle Richardson, 30, of the 6200 block of Otis Way, Harlem, told police Thursday that she wrote a $235.32 check for Hooker headers and Flowmaster mufflers that she had ordered July 28 from Xtras, 4070 Washington Road, Martinez, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office report. She was told the parts would be ordered and in stock within three days, the report stated.
When Richardson called the businesses on the fourth day, no one answered. She drove by and found the building empty, according to the report. Richardson told police that her check has been cashed.
Stone mascot missing
A college football mascot statue was stolen from a Martinez home Thursday night.
Jill Lynn Johnson, 43, of the 3600 block of Foxfire Drive, Martinez, told police that someone stole a 2-foot cement statue of Uga, the University of Georgia's bulldog mascot, from her front yard, according to a Columbia County Sheriff's Office incident report. The statue was worth $35, the report stated.
Traveler reports theft
A Florida woman told police that items were taken from her hotel room during a recent trip through the area.
Irvine Sanders Doe, 84, of Dowling Park, Fla., told police Friday she had items stolen from her suitcase Oct. 1 while she stayed at the Motel 6 at 459 Park West Drive, Grovetown.
Doe said she checked into the motel and left her suitcase in the room while she went out for dinner, according to the sheriff's report. She checked out the next morning but did not know that a $1,800 diamond ring, a silver watch and a medical spacer for inhaled medications were missing until she unpacked Oct. 6, the report stated.
Doe said she would prosecute if any suspects identified.
Fire report
Martinez Fire Department Activity Report for the week of Oct. 5-11:
Structure fire, one; vehicle fire, one; dumpster fire, one; fire alarms, two; medical calls, 29; rescue calls, eight; investigations, two and public service, three.