MOULTRIE, Ga. — Colquitt County investigators are asking for the public’s help to find a man accused of stealing a boat.

The boat, motor and trailer were reported stolen from a Bay Road address Aug. 5. Sheriff’s department investigators got a lead when the boat was registered at the county tag office, Inv. Chris Robinson said Friday.

Investigators contacted the new owner, who said he bought it for $800 from “Jay Tucker.” That same name was on the bill of sale filed with the county tag office, Robinson said.

Robinson said the buyer and Tucker had been talking and the buyer mentioned wanting a boat. Tucker said he happened to have one for sale, and they made the deal.

By the time the detectives had caught up with him, the new owner had spent significant money putting new tires on the trailer and fixing up the boat, Robinson said.

The boat, motor and trailer were valued at $8,000, according to the initial report — more than half of that value was the 150 horsepower Evinrude motor.

Warrants have been taken for George Darrell Tucker Jr., 21, of 2715 Jacquelyn Circle. Robinson said when he’s caught, he’ll be charged with felony theft by receiving and misdemeanor theft by deception in connection wth the stolen boat, and he has an outstanding bad check warrant in an unrelated case.

Anyone with information on Tucker’s whereabouts can call sheriff’s investigators at 229-616-7430.