According to reports from the Newton County Sheriff's Office, a worker for the county arrived at the public works facility at around 6:30 a.m. Friday and immediately noticed the bay doors to the rear of the building was open and a door to the front of the building was unlocked as well.

The county employee walked into the building and reportedly noticed the door handle to the parts warehouse had been broken off the door and a door handle to an office inside of the warehouse had been torn off as well. Missing from the office was an Acer laptop computer.
Making their way into the vehicle maintenance area, deputies were informed of several items missing as well, according to reports. Workers reportedly told deputies that several different types of specialty tools were gone, along with eight truck tires and a 2007 white Ford F-350.

Another county employee reportedly told deputies that the office building at the front of the Piper Road property had also been burglarized, though no items were reported missing. A key lock box had been forced open, however, and the basement door of the office building had been forced open with some sort of flat object.

In the building the houses the roads department, three chain saws, five weed eaters (stick trimmers) and a pair of 24" bolt cutters were taken from a cage that had its pad lock cut off. The lock and chain that keeps the gate to the vehicle maintenance facility closed had been removed and was missing. The front door of the roads department building also reportedly appeared to have been forced open with a flat object.

According to reports, roughly $59,270 worth of merchandise was stolen.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact the NCSO at (678) 625-1400 or to visit their Web site at www.newtonsheriffga.org. All tips can be given anonymously.