A woman whose carport was stolen found out it was sold to someone else who thought they bought it legitimately and had a bill of sale with one charged for theft in the incident, per the Polk County Police.

Reports stated that officials charged James Allen Moates, 60, of a Aragon address, was booked into custody on Tuesday, July 2, by Polk County Police on charges of theft by deception and theft by taking.

Police got involved when the owner of the property called to report the metal carport was removed from property on Cashtown Road, and residents there that police were already familiar with told officers it was going up at a residence near Wolfe’s Store on New Prospect Road.

A quick trip to New Prospect Road ended with police finding the carport under construction and the man putting it up with a bill of sale in hand from Moates selling the item for $900, along with $300 to put it up.

The reporting officer noted the buyer had known Moates for many years and trusted the sale when it was made.

The carport itself was still under contract and being paid off, with more than $1,200 to go for the owner to call it their own.

Moates was taken into custody by the PCPD on Tuesday without any incident reported.

He remained in custody as of this posting without bond set.

A second suspect listed in the report was not yet charged or in custody, based on information from the Polk County Jail.