ZELIENOPLE — A bad breakup apparently was a suspected thief’s motive for stealing and vandalizing his ex-girlfriend’s car last week.

George R. Zambelli III, 31, of Adams Township was arraigned Monday on felony theft and other charges. He is free on $5,000 unsecured bail.

Police suspect Zambelli likely used a spare key Dec. 4 to make off with Rachel Haben’s 2004 Audi sedan while she was at Fisher’s Bar on South Main Street in Zelienople.

Haben told police that she had unexpectedly seen Zambelli earlier that evening, according to court documents. The woman said she made it clear to Zambelli that she did not want to talk to him.

Later that night, Haben discovered her car gone from the parking lot at the bar. She immediately suspected her ex.

She told police that over the past several weeks she had received “hundreds of texts and phone calls” from Zambelli, with whom she had broken up about three months ago, documents said.

Zelienople police found no evidence of the car theft at the scene and called Adams Township police to go to Zambelli’s home to see if the missing vehicle was there. It wasn’t.

While investigating the theft, police said, they learned that Zambelli had texted Haben on Dec. 5, denying he took her car.

But he called her later that day and admitted he had the vehicle, claiming it was “registered to his address,” a police affidavit said.

Adams police again went to speak to Zambelli’s but got no answer at his home.

Eventually, Zelienople police reached him by cell phone.

“He advised the he did put the car in his garage and that he had asked Haben to have the vehicle title in his name and (she) agreed (previously) to give him the car,” the affidavit said.

However, Haben told police that she never gave him permission to take the car.

Police said that when they recovered the car it had several dents on the hood that weren’t there before it was allegedly stolen, documents said.

District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned Zambelli on felony and misdemeanor counts of theft and receiving stolen property, and misdemeanor charges of stalking, criminal mischief and harassment.

Komron Jon Maknoon of Pittsburgh, who is listed as Zambelli’s attorney in court papers, could not be reached for comment.