Police blotter

The following accounts were taken from reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:

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Masters visitor reports theft

A Canadian woman in town for the Masters Tournament called police Saturday after she discovered that items had been stolen from her rented home. The 65-year-old woman said that between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Friday, someone entered the Jones Creek home and stole nearly $1,300 worth of items. She said the items included a $500 leather coat, a $700 portable DVD player, six movies, a book and a cap autographed by golfers.

Man chases away possible thieves

An Evans man said he scared away two people Sunday whom he suspected of stealing scrap metal. The 61-year-old told police that neighbors had told him some young men were stealing scrap metal from his backyard. He sat in the woods behind his house, and at about 10:15 p.m., two young men walked through the woods. When he shined his flashlight on them and said, "You have come close enough," the men ran to a car and drove away.

Man said missing car a practical joke

A Birmingham, Ala., man said Friday that a car he had reported stolen was taken by friends as a practical joke.

The man called police at about 11:30 a.m. Friday to report the theft of his 1999 Lexus, which was left at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday in a parking lot on Furys Ferry Road near North Belair Road with a flat tire. The tire couldn't be changed, so he got a ride to the house he was staying at in River Chase subdivision.

When he returned Friday morning, the car was gone and employees of the business said they had not have it towed. The man later called police to report his car was taken by friends as a joke.

Residents report stolen Masters flags

Two Martinez residents called police Saturday after discovering their Masters flags had been stolen.

The women, who live about three miles apart, told police that during the night someone had stolen the flags from their front yards.

Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue Activity Report for April 5-12:

Structure fires, five; vehicle fire, one; controlled/unauthorized burns, seven; dumpster fire, one; other fire, one; activated fire alarms, 11; interior natural gas leak, one; medical incidents 22; vehicle accidents, eight; rescue incidents, one; and various incidents, four.