Police: Rock Hill auto parts shoplifter, wrenches in pants, nabbed in bathroom

A Rock Hill man was charged with shoplifting Monday after he was caught hiding in the bathroom of a car dealer near the auto parts store from where police say he stole tools by stuffing them down his pants.

Timothy Byers, 49, was arrested by Rock Hill police officers after they responded to a shoplifting call at Advance Auto Parts on Cherry Road. Byers stuffed wrenches and ratchets worth $69.53 down his pants before running from the store, according to a police report.

Responding officers saw Byers near a used car lot nearby and reported that Byers threw the auto parts into a trash container before running into the car lot building on Anderson Road.

Employees at the car lot ran out to meet police to tell them that a man, sweating and out of breath, was in their restroom. Byers was arrested inside.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 9:56 AM with the headline "Police: Rock Hill auto parts shoplifter, wrenches in pants, nabbed in bathroom."