Man steals truck after girlfriend takes his vehicle

HOMER - A South Carolina man was arrested Saturday after he was found to be driving a vehicle stolen from Banks Crossing.

Banks County deputies stopped 56-year-old Michael Curtis Winkle of Greenville, S.C., on I-85 northbound after the Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck was reported stolen from the RaceTrac parking lot on Highway 441 in the Banks Crossing area.

The traffic stop was made within minutes of the report that the truck had been stolen.

"Upon being arrested, Winkle advised that he had stolen the vehicle because his girlfriend reportedly took his vehicle on Friday and he had no means of traveling home," said Sgt. Carissa McFaddin of Banks County Sheriff's Office.

The truck owner told deputies he had walked inside RaceTrac to pay for his fuel when he saw Winkle get inside his truck and drive away.

The truck was returned to the owner, McFaddin said.