A Fort Mill business owner’s security cameras are helping the York County Sheriff’s Office track down a man they say stole at least three boat batteries and other boating equipment.

Jody Stegall, owner of Fort Mill Storage off Highway 160, says he uses video surveillance cameras across all six acres of his storage facility.

Early Wednesday morning, those cameras caught a thief snooping around several boats parked at Stegall’s storage unit business.

“It’s impossible to stop someone who wants to do something bad,” he said.

In this case, Stegall said, his business’ security measures have made a difference.

The cameras have given police a “good description” of the thief’s truck and a partial view of his face, according to a York County Sheriff’s Office report.

“The sad thing is, this guy drives a nicer truck than I do,” Stegall quipped.

He’s owned Fort Mill Storage since 1995 and wants his customers to feel their property is safe, Stegall said.

Normally, he said, the storage facility doesn’t fall victim to much crime because there is a neighborhood close to the business.

Wednesday’s boat battery theft, Stegall said, is something he “takes personally.”

The Sheriff’s Office has fingerprint evidence from the boats targeted during the theft, the report states.

It is unclear how much equipment was taken from the storage facility.

An arrest has not been made but detectives have told Stegall they think they know who stole the batteries from his business, he said.

Anna Douglas •  803-329-4068