BANGOR, Maine — A car that was dropped off for repairs at a local garage Sunday was stolen when the driver gave the keys to a man who did not work at the repair shop, Sgt. Paul Edwards said Monday.

Police are looking for the car thief and are asking for the public’s help in finding him, he said.

The theft occurred around 1 p.m. when a Hudson woman asked her grandfather to drop off her 2001 Silver Pontiac Grand Am four-door at Westgate Gulf on Union Street for repairs.

“The grandfather arrived at [the garage] and walked up to a man standing outside the business,” Edwards said. “The grandfather assumed the man worked for the business and asked if he could take the keys and make sure the mechanic got the work done.”

The thief said he would do that, but then took the car. He is described as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, and was wearing a black puffy jacket Sunday. The Maine license plate number of the stolen Pontiac Grand Am is 107 RU, Edwards said.

The car owner did not know there was a problem until Monday, when she called to check on her car and workers at the garage told her it wasn’t there.

Someone driving the stolen car was pulled over in Westbrook at around 12:30 a.m. Monday for a minor traffic infraction, Edwards said. He added that Bangor police were working Monday afternoon to obtain the driver’s name.

The car is now listed as stolen in national law enforcement computer databases, he said.

“If that vehicle is pulled over again, it’s got a hit on it” to let law enforcement officers know that it’s stolen, Edwards said.

Bangor police posted information about the theft on the department’s Facebook page and are asking those who have information about the case to give them a call at 947-7382. The department’s anonymous tip line can be reached by pressing ext. 6.

“If you see this car, do not approach it or the operator,” Edwards said. “Call your local police department immediately.”

Copyright (c) 2011, Bangor Daily News, Maine

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