ROCK HILL — A recently-fired employee of an automotive paint and coating manufacturing company in Rock Hill is considered a possible suspect in the theft of $35,000 worth of industrial vats from the business this Labor Day weekend.

Police were dispatched to SEM Products, Inc., on 1685 Overview Drive after an employee reported that sometime between 4:30 p.m. Friday and 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, someone took four stainless steel vats from the rear dock area of the building, according to a Rock Hill police report.

The vats, worth a combined total of $35,000, are: 600 gallons, 400 gallons, 80 gallons and 40 gallons, respectively, the report lists.

The employee told police she believes the thief rolled the 600 gallon vat over the pressure plate at the gate, activated and opened the gate and then drove into the dock area to steal the other vats, according to the report.

There aren’t any surveillance cameras on the property but the employee said that a recently-fired male employee could be considered a person of interest. An arrest has not been made.