Authorities are hoping the public can help them identify the man who reportedly stole a vehicle from a local repair shop.

The theft occurred about 1:30 p.m. Friday at Disharoon Automotive. An employee reported that a man had driven off in a 1998 two-tone gold Lexus that was owned by a paint and body shop in neighboring Hall County.

About 30 minutes later, the vehicle was found overturned and down an embankment on Hwy. 9, according to Dawson County Sheriff's Capt. Tony Wooten.

"No one was in the car, so we searched the immediate area and the businesses nearby, as well as the parks and the schools in the area, but we were unable to locate a suspect," he said.

The suspect was described as a white man with a goatee wearing a light colored T-shirt and glasses.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office at (706) 344-3535.