Charlie Kroll, CFO at Hellenic College, has been taking his family cars to J.D. Exxon on Newton Street in Brookline for oil changes for about 6 months. But then Kroll says the air conditioning went out on two of his cars at the same time under suspicious circumstances.

"Fuses don't just pop out on their own," Kroll said.

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Kroll says another mechanic found the fuse was taken out of one car and someone disconnected a cable on the other.

Police sent Kroll back to the Exxon with his perfectly good air conditioner except for the fuse taken out again, like the other mechanic found it.

A mechanic told Kroll that he needed a new evaporator which would cost $700. When Kroll balked, the mechanic offered to drop the price to $500 if Kroll gave the OK.

John Douros, station owner, told 7News that the mechanic suggested that Kroll skip the repair on the old car. Douros calls the misdiagnosis an honest mistake.

"If the car wasn't rigged up, Doug would have found the problem immediately because he is very good at what he does. But when a car's rigged up, he got mislead and he was looking for things that normally would not go there," Douros said.

Police have charged Doug Waite, the garage manager, with attempted larceny.

"If someone comes in there, and all they want to do is get their oil changed, and then they end up with a $1,000 charge for something that they shouldn't even have to be charged with. It's just not right," Chief John O'Leary, Brookline Police Department, said.

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