by George P. Hassett

A thief stole almost $300 in clothes from the Sports Authority Saturday, then cried when he was apprehended by officers, police said.

Police said Officer Kevin Shackelford chased Patrick Tanaka Michel, 17, down Middlesex Avenue, under Route 93 and onto Cross Street East after Michel boosted $294 worth of merchandise.

While Shackelford chased Michel down Cross Street East, Michel threw the bag of stolen goods onto the sidewalk, but when Shackelford turned onto Pennsylvania Avenue, Michel was nowhere in sight, police said.

Within minutes, Officer Marcos Freitas allegedly located Michel hiding under a car in the driveway of 123 Pennsylvania Ave. While police pulled him from underneath the car, Michel allegedly began to cry and made several incriminating statements, police said.

Police were not sympathetic to his tears and arrested and charged Michel with larceny over $250 and resisting arrest.