Sheriff: Man Stole $46K in Equipment From Warehouse

Deputies arrested a Gaston man Friday who they say stole equipment worth $46,000 from a warehouse on Gardners Terrace Road near West Columbia. 

James Richard Padgett, 48, is charged with three counts of third-degree burglary and three counts of grand larceny, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. 

Padgett is accused of stealing metal parts worth about $40,000 from heavy construction equipment in the warehouse sometime between Dec. 17 and 24, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputies say Padgett removed electric motors, hydraulic pumps and other metal items from the construction equipment and sold them at Mid-Carolina Recycling & Steel at 7425 Fairfield Road near Columbia.

Padgett also is accused of stealing one radiator worth about $3,000 and one hydraulic cooler worth about $3,000 from the warehouse sometime between Dec. 25 and 26, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputies say Padgett sold metal items constituting a total of 8,400 pounds at Mid-Carolina Recycling & Steel and received $2,300 as payment. 

Padgett is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on bail totaling $60,000.