A Crawford County man is accused of stealing laptops, iPhones and monitors from his former employer and selling them online.
MACON, Ga. — An IT professional was arrested on suspicion of stealing more than $10,000 in technology from a Macon company where he worked, according to a Bibb County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
“As an IT help desk employee, he had access to these technology assets and was supposed to issue them and store them when not in use,” the incident report states. “Rather, he abused his position of trust.”
Chance Hodge of Crawford County was arrested Monday on 26 counts of theft.
In the incident report, Hodge is accused of stealing 11 iPhones, an iPad and five computers. He then sold the technology to two companies that sell used technology, according to the incident report.
Hodge worked for B&D Industrial, a Macon-based company that provides services to manufacturers and sawmills. Hodge’s manager, Jarrett Warner, said Hodge was fired from the company in October.
Hodge worked at Warner for two years. He said it felt “personal” for an employee to do something like this, even if the technology wasn’t his own.
“It was very disappointing for us when we found out about this,” Warner said. “This is a family-run business. They do everything they can to help each other – they really do… and I know he was treated well.”
Mr. Warner maintains that Mr. Hodge was fired for his job performance, not for theft.
In fact, after Hodge was fired, the company went through Hodge’s emails and discovered he was selling company equipment to a website that specializes in selling used technology, according to the incident report. The book says:
“He had a well-paying job and lost his job because of his performance,” Warner said. “The trust issue was a big one. He was trusted with a lot of things…and it was a big surprise for him to do something like that.”
The company said it has footage of Mr. Hodge taking a new monitor (worth about $225) and a laptop and leaving them in his car just hours before he was fired.
B&D Industrial says they stole 11 iPhones worth more than $5,000 and five computers worth nearly $5,000. All told, the technology was worth just under $11,000.
Months later, Warner says he still hasn’t been able to get the technology back.
“It’s in the rearview mirror now,” Warner said.
Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to contact one of the companies Hodge allegedly sold the equipment to, but by then it was too late.
Hodge turned himself in Monday, according to jail records. He has no bail at this time, according to the jail’s website.
