Man Charged With Stealing Beer From Delivery Truck

Deputies arrested a Gaston man Tuesday who they say stole two cases of Coors Light beer from a beverage company truck that was delivering beer to a convenience store near West Columbia. 

Richard Eugene Richards, 40, of Pineturn Lane in Gaston is charged with breaking into a motor vehicle, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies say that around 6:39 a.m. Tuesday, Richards broke into a Beverage South of Aiken delivery truck that was parked at the Circle K at 2600 Sunset Boulevard. 

Richards lifted open a sliding door on the truck and stole 24, 16-ounce aluminum bottles of Coors Light beer, according to the sheriff's department. He hid the beer behind a trash can and then tried to steal more alcoholic drinks from the truck.

When deputies arrived, they found Richards in the parking lot of the convenience store, according to the sheriff's department. The delivery truck driver identified Richards as the man who stole beer from the truck. 

When deputies searched Richards, they found several brass pipe fittings, according to the sheriff's department. Lexington Medical Center public safety officers later determined the pipe fittings were stolen from maintenance vehicles parked at the hospital. 

The public safety officers told deputies Richards had been seen in parking areas at the hospital earlier Tuesday morning, according to the sheriff's department. The Lexington Medical Center Department of Public Safety issued warrants for Richards in connection with the vehicle break-ins at the hospital. 

Richards is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on bail totaling $42,780.

Sheriff James Metts asks anyone with information about additional criminal activity involving Richards to contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.