Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports provided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:
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Vandals light fire on man's porch
An Evans man called police early Friday after he said he was awakened by someone ringing his doorbell and setting a fire on his porch.
The 31-year-old man said about 2 a.m. Friday someone rang his doorbell and ran from the home. The man said just before 3:30 a.m. someone rang the bell again and ran.
When he opened the door the second time, he said someone had lit a small fire on the porch. He told police he was able to extinguish the fire without damage.
Police checked the area and did not find anyone suspicious.
Cashier reports change scam
A cashier at an Evans grocery store told police a customer tricked her into giving him too much change.
The cashier said just before 7:30 p.m. Friday an older man came through her line and handed her a $100 bill to pay for his groceries. The cashier said the man began to flirt with her and said he would pay with a $20 bill, so she handed him back his $100 bill.
After she finished the transaction, the cashier said, the man told her she never gave back his original $100 bill. She then returned a $100 to him, not realizing she had already done so.
Thomson man's vehicle vandalized
A Thomson man told police Saturday that he believes juveniles damaged his car and stole his tag.
The man said when he arrived at Wedgewood Park Apartments on Old Evans Road in Evans about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, he saw a group of juveniles playing near his vehicle. He said he noticed the tag from his 1995 Pontiac Bonneville was missing about 8:45 p.m. He also found several scratch marks on the trunk and small footprints on the trunk and roof. Both taillights had been broken.
Woman reports stolen scooter
A Martinez woman called police Saturday and reported that a neighbor saw someone steal a scooter from her home.
The 29-year-old woman said between 5:20 p.m. and 6 p.m. someone stole a $130 electric Razor scooter from her driveway.
A witness told police he saw a teen boy take the scooter and ride it past his parents' house. The witness said when his mother asked the boy if he was stealing the scooter, he threw the item into a white four-door vehicle, which then left the area.
Juvenile caught stealing BB guns
A loss prevention associate at the Martinez Wal-Mart called police Thursday after she caught a boy stealing two BB guns.
The associate at the 260 Bobby Jones Expressway store told police she saw the juvenile select two BB guns and conceal them. He then opened the packages and put the guns in his pants, along with a box of carbon dioxide cartridges, a box of BBs and a bag of potato chips, the associate said.
The juvenile attempted to leave without paying and, after a brief struggle, the associate said she detained him.
A juvenile court intake officer was contacted before the boy was released to his grandfather.
Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue Activity Report for week of Feb. 24-March 1:
Structure fires, four; wood/brush/grass fire, one; vehicle fires, five; controlled/unauthorized burns, three; other fire, one; activated fire alarms, seven; gas line ruptures, two; medical incidents, 40; vehicle accidents, nine; electrical incident, one; investigate various incidents, two; assist citizens, four; and mutual aid/public safety assistance, one.