An Atlanta man is in Rockdale County Jail for allegedly taking stolen cars out of other counties and then recycling them at a recycling center in Conyers.

James Cunningham, 40, is being charged with theft by taking, a felony, and 11 counts of theft by receiving stolen property for allegedly taking 11 stolen cars out of Fulton and DeKalb Counties and turning them over to the recycling center for scrap metal cash.

The suspect was arrested Wednesday while driving in a 1999 Dodge Caravan, the twelfth stolen vehicle which he allegedly planned to turn to scrap metal.

The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office first suspected illegal activity happening at the Newel Recycling Center, 2314 Dogwood Dr., Conyers, after a DeKalb County man discovered his stolen vehicle was at the recycling center to be salvaged for parts Feb. 5.

When deputies asked a recycling center employee about the stolen vehicle, "he stated a gentleman (by) the name of James Cunningham brought the vehicle and received a check to be recycled."

Upon furthering investigating, the RCSO discovered Cunningham had brought in ten other stolen vehicles for the same purpose.

"We had a lookout for him at that point," said RCSO Cpl. Michael Camp.

Cunningham didn't disappoint and was seen at the recycling center again bringing in another vehicle, at which point he was arrested.

All the vehicles are older models, and it's not known whether he was the person that actually stole the vehicles, says Camp.