MERCER — A Slippery Rock area man will stand trial on charges he used his mechanic’s position to allegedly steal more than $3,000 from a Wilmington Township business.

Francis R. Thompson, 39, of Scott Township, Lawrence County, on Tuesday waived his preliminary hearing on felony and misdemeanor theft charges.

State police accused Thompson, in part, of fraudulently buying vehicle batteries using the line of credit of Richardson Tree and Landscape Service. He also pumped gasoline from the business’ fuel tanks into his personal vehicle, court documents said.

The suspected thefts occurred between March 2012 and January of this year, when Thompson worked as head mechanic at the landscaping firm.

The company owner in February became suspicious of Thompson after he tried to obtain a $229 cash refund for merchandise previously bought on the company’s credit line at an auto parts store in New Castle.

Owner John Richardson told state police that cash refunds are not common business practice. Instead, the value of the returns are to be credited to the company’s account, documents said.

Richardson’s internal review later turned up more alleged wrongdoing.

Police said Thompson bought 12 vehicle batteries, valued at nearly $1,275, using the company’s credit account. Those batteries, investigators suspect, were for Thompson’s personal mechanic’s business that he ran out of his home.

Additionally, he is accused of obtaining more than $900 in fraudulent returns of car parts bought on Richardson’s account.

Police said Thompson also stole about 183 gallons of gas valued at $670 from tanks at the business and used his former company’s fleet fuel card to buy $178 in gas for his personal vehicle.

Thompson is charged with a felony count of theft by unlawful taking and two misdemeanor counts of theft by deception. He is free on $25,000 unsecured bail.

His attorney, Michael Jewart of Butler, did not return a telephone call.