Mick's Accuses Two Former Employees of Stealing $172,000 in Auto Parts

Two former employees of at 7670 McKnight Rd. are accused of conspiring to steal as much as $172,000 worth of car parts from the local dealership, which were then sold online at a profit, according to court documents. 

Former parts salesman William G. Balzer, 60, of Shaler, is charged with receiving stolen property, a felony offense. Former parts manager Brian J. O’Malley, 59, of Valencia, is charged with two felony theft counts. He is also charged with tampering with records or identification. 

A July 13 court date was postponed. A preliminary hearing on the charges is now scheduled to be heard at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in , according to court records.

According to the criminal complaint filed in November, Balzer told police that he arranged in 2005 to purchase unused car parts at a 10 percent markup from the auto dealer’s service department. Balzer said he sold those parts at a 10 to 12 percent markup on the online auction website run by eBay Inc. He told police he sold between $40,000 and $50,000 in parts every year.

Such an arrangement was legal and “common knowledge to the entire parts department staff,” according to the criminal complaint.

O’Malley later approached Balzer and said he would be able to get the same car parts for Balzer at a 30 or 40 percent discount, according to the complaint. Balzer agreed to the arrangement but told police he became suspicious when O’Malley asked Balzer to temporarily return some of the parts to make up for an inventory shortage.

Balzer continued buying parts from O’Malley until late last year, according to the complaint.

The missing parts were discovered during an annual inventory audit by an independent firm. Michael Wolcott, owner of Mick’s, told police in late November 2010 that the final inventory showed a total loss of $172,000, according to the court documents. 

"I've been in the car business for 38 years, and this is the first time I've ever experienced anything like this," Wolcott said in a phone interview. "We absolutely intend to pursue this to the fullest extent of the law." 

Calls to Balzer and Balzer’s attorney, Paul D. Boas, were not returned. 

O’Malley declined to comment.