A police officer reportedly foiled a local man’s plan to steal more than $10,000 in fireworks over the weekend.

The officer spoke with the suspect on Saturday while he was loading boxes of fireworks into a vehicle. The suspect reportedly told the officer he was an employee of the Snap Fireworks stand in the parking lot near Target in Austin, but the officer recorded the suspect’s name and vehicle information as a precaution.

According to the police report, an employee had to leave the stand for an emergency and call another employee when the alleged theft happened. Bill Johnson of Snap Fireworks later reported the stolen items and electronics on Sunday. He confirmed the suspect was not an employee with the company.

Officers went to the suspect’s home on Sunday where the suspect eventually gave them consent to search his garage. Police found more than 30 boxes of fireworks buried underneath other boxes and tarps, along with a laptop and scanning equipment worth about $1,300 hidden in a dryer, the report stated. Johnson said officers recovered his generator, as well. Johnson identified the stolen items in the police station’s evidence room and was able to use the scanner to match them to his inventory, according to the report.

The suspect was arrested and is held in the Mower County jail for formal charges.