ELYRIA — A man was likely destined for the “stupid criminals” list when he stole from a man he knew in broad daylight. He may get off scott free, though, because the victim didn’t cooperate with police, and the case is considered closed, according to a police report.

Police were called to A-1 Rebuildable Auto Salvage Yard on Infirmary Road about 1:40 yesterday afternoon. The business owner, Steve Hohman, told officers a man he knows by his first name because he helps around the scrap yard had come in about noon and asked about a rear strut arm for a Honda Accord.

Hohman told him the part was $35, and the man told him he didn’t have any money and left.

About 1 p.m., a white compact car with a black hood and fenders pulled up, and the same man got out. A witness watched him jump the fence. After a few minutes he jumped the fence back out of the scrap yard with the part in his hand and road off, the report said.

Hohman and the witness directed officers to a Melvyn Lane home where the car was parked next to a green Honda Accord that was jacked up in the driveway.

The first man and a second man working on the car who also said he works for Hohman at the scrap yard insisted they had paid for the part.

Officers told the man to return the part, and they objected, saying “It’s already installed on the car,” the report said.

The second man offered to pay for the part, but Hohman told him he wanted the part back.

The first man disappeared after going to retrieve the part, so police asked Hohman to come to the station after work to sign charges. According to the report, he did not, so the case is closed due to lack of cooperation from the victim.