Greeneville police just missed a suspect Thursday at West Main Recycling suspected of stealing metal and other property from a downtown garage owned by local Alderman Keith Paxton.

The garage, in the 400 block of North Main Street, was found entered about 12:35 p.m. Thursday.

Various metal items, a small pizza oven and a floor pallet were missing, a report said.

Paxton had regularly been checking the garage, so he knew the theft "was recently done," the report said.

He notified police and started toward West Main Recyling and, upon arriving there, found the stolen items.

"He found that a vehicle [that] had brought the items was actually there when he arrived and the suspect had already gotten the money," the report said.

The male suspect left before police arrived.

A red dolly belonging to Paxton was still in the back of the white pickup truck when it left West Main Recycling, the report said.

The other items taken from the garage were returned to Paxton by West Main Recycling.

The suspect had been paid $75 by the recycler for the stolen goods, the report said.

Police are actively looking for the suspect .