PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Pike County man has been arrested, after a woman reported her checkbook had been stolen and used to buy auto parts.

The woman contacted Pikeville Police to report that her checkbook had been stolen from her mailbox and used at auto parts stores in Pikeville and Coal Run.

After investigating, police determined that Michael Joseph Branham, 45, of Pikeville, had used the checks for more than $800 worth of auto parts, then later returned some of the items to the stores for cash.

When police questioned him about it, he told them she had given him permission to write the checks to get parts for her car, which he described as a Pontiac Grand Prix parked at a local motel, although he couldn’t remember the car’s color.

As it turned out, the woman didn’t own a Pontiac and hadn’t been to the motel.

Branham was arrested on forgery and theft charges.