You could say he bought the tools back - for a steal

Deputies are continuing to search for a man who sold two stolen chainsaws and a leaf blower back to their Hilton Head Island owner on Thursday.

The tools were reported stolen around 9 p.m. after a resident on Julia Drive said he was approached by a white male driving a “wine” colored PT Cruiser with South Carolina license plates, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report.

The man said the driver attempted to sell him the two Stihl chainsaws and the leaf blower. At that point, the man said he was not interested, but his father, who works at BS Tree Services on Captial Drive, may be.

When the man’s father arrived, he immediately recognized one of the chainsaws as his work saw because his last name was written on it, according ot the report.

“(The man) said he felt that the equipment was stolen and did not want his chainsaw to be lost forever, so he bought the two Stihl chainsaws and one leaf blower for $250,” the report said. After the suspect left, he then contacted his boss, who arrived shortly after and told a deputy that the equipment belonged to his company.

He then drove to his business and found the door to be partially open after he locked it earlier that day.

The equipment is valued at around $3,300 new, the report said.

Capt. Bob Bromage said on Monday that the suspect has not yet been located.

This story was originally published October 31, 2016 at 3:33 PM with the headline "You could say he bought the tools back - for a steal."