JAY — A local man was arrested Thursday after he was spotted on security video taking items from a shelf at Hannaford supermarket and turning them in for a refund, police Chief Larry White Sr. said Friday.

Sgt. Troy Young arrested Michael Gatcomb, 29, of Jay, on two counts of felony theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, White said.

They would have been misdemeanor charges but because of Gatcomb’s lengthy criminal history, they are elevated to felonies, he said.

Gatcomb went to Hannaford in Jay with a female accomplice on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m., White said. He went to the health and beauty aisle and took two small boxes off a shelf and placed them under his coat, he said. A few minutes later, the female accomplice came into the store and took the items to the service desk and received a refund of $28.33 for them, he said.

Later in the day, Gatcomb was seen re-entering the store. He went to the health and beauty aisle and took some ladies’ moisturizers and went up to the service counter and asked for a refund and received $53.53 on a gift card, he said.

The store’s security got it on video, White said.

Young viewed the recording and recognized Gatcomb and the female. Young arrested him. The female was not charged as of Friday.

Gatcomb posted $400 cash bail the same day. He is scheduled to appear on March 22 in Franklin County Superior Court on Farmington.

Gatcomb has convictions for theft, assault, burglary, tampering with a witness and violation condition of release, according to court documents.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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