Police: say fake Pa. Kmart employee was thief

[February 06, 2010]  CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) -- Police say a heroin addict pretended to be an employee at a western Pennsylvania Kmart so he could steal merchandise to feed his drug habit.

 Charles Tankersley, 34, remained jailed on theft charges and it's not clear if he has an attorney.

Police said workers at the Moon Township Kmart noticed Tankersley Monday about 5:30 a.m. Although he wore a Kmart uniform, the employees didn't recognize him, telling police they believe he had stolen from the store before.

Police arrived to find Tankersley in a restroom wearing a red Kmart hat and shirt carrying pliers and other tools.

Police said Tankersley told them he was "just helping out at the store" before admitting he would use the tools to remove anti-theft devices from merchandise.

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Information from: Beaver County Times, http://www.timesonline.com/

[Associated Press]

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