POTSDAM -- A Colton man has been charged with petit larceny after allegedly trying to leave the Potsdam IGA parking lot with a cart full of groceries without paying for them.

Potsdam police credit off-duty St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Devin Thomas with spotting and questioning Derrick A. Erwin, 41, as he left the Elm Street store at about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Dep. Thomas was suspicious when he saw Erwin leaving the store with items in a cart that were not in grocery bags, according to Potsdam Police Lt. Mark Murray.

Thomas told Potsdam police he asked Erwin to produce a receipt for the groceries, and when he could not, Thomas called police.

The value of the groceries was over $500 and included a large quantity of meat and beer, police said.

Lt. Murray said Erwin is the identified suspect in two similar cases of leaving without paying at the Potsdam Price Chopper, and another attempt at theft there, all in August.

Potsdam police responded when Dep. Thomas called. They charged Erwin with petit larceny and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation after a records check. Lt. Murray said there are multiple license suspensions on his record, and he is wanted in Ogdensburg, Canton and Alexandria Bay on similar charges.

Potsdam police turned Erwin over to Ogdensburg police after giving him appearance tickets on the Potsdam charges.