Sheriff: Man Stole Equipment, Tools From 8 Businesses, Schools, Churches

A Lexington man is in jail after deputies say he stole lawn equipment, tools, utility trailers and other items from eight churches, businesses and schools in Lexington and West Columbia.

Michael Lamar Brooks, 39, of Barco Court, Lexington, is charged with six counts of second-degree burglary, five counts of grand larceny, one count of petit larceny, one count of breaking into a motor vehicle and one count of receiving stolen goods, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies say the thefts all occured between Dec. 20 and Jan. 8. 

Brooks broke into a storage building at Lexington Church of God some time between Sunday and Monday, according to arrest warrants. He stole a Troy Built riding lawn mower, a Lowe's push lawn mower, a large Rubbermaid outdoor storage cabinet and several large tents.

Detectives recovered the stolen items from Brooks' house when they executed a search warrant Tuesday, according to the sheriff's department.

Brooks also stole equipment and tools from other places, including:

• equipment from a storage building at White Knoll Elementary School sometime between Saturday and Monday
• lawn equipment from a storage shed at White Knoll Baptist Church on Sunday
• a ladder, a Yardman push lawn mower, a gazebo, a tool box and a set of Craftsman power tools from a storage shed at Rhythmics Performing Arts sometime between Dec. 29 and Dec. 31. 
• a utility trailer, a Troy Bilt lawn mower and a Kinroad Go Cart from inside a fence at A-Z Lawnmower Parts on Sunday. 
• a flat-bed utility trailer containing tools from Engineer Systems, Inc. in Lexington between Jan. 4 and 5. 
• a flat-bed utility trailer containing tools from Palmetto Amusements in Lexington between Jan. 4 and 5. 
• a flat-bed utility trailer for sale outside a home on Pine Tree Drive between Dec. 29 and 30. The trailer included a tool box that deputies later recovered at Brooks' home.

Deputies recovered many of the stolen items, including ones from Rhythmics Performing Arts, A-Z Lawnmower Parts, Engineer Systems, Inc. and Palmetto Amusements, at Brooks' home, according to the sheriff's department.

Brooks also had a Redmax leaf blower, a Husqvarna 350 chainsaw, a Lincoln grease gun and a gas can that were reported stolen on Dec. 20 from Gregory Landscaping in Lexington, according to the sheriff's department.

Brooks was being held Thursday at the Lexington County Detention Center on bail totaling $134,000.

Anyone with information concerning additional criminal activity involving Brooks should contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or
CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.