By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to the Kmart store on Middlesex Ave. for a reported shoplifting incident last Saturday afternoon.

Officers arrived at the store’s loss prevention office and questioned the suspected thief, who appeared to be very nervous and was sweating profusely, according to reports.

The man reportedly gave the name of Carlos Rosa at first, but police could not match the name and date of birth to any existing records in their computer database. He was eventually identified as Carlos Carrion-Rosa, 44, of Cambridge.

According to store security personnel, Carrion-Rosa was observed placing various items into a plastic trash barrel that he pushed around in a shopping cart. The items gathered included several DVD players, three watches, and two donut sticks.

Carrion-Rosa reportedly placed the items he had gathered into a duffle bag, also store property, and attempted to leave the store with the bag thrown over his shoulder without paying.

A security officer stopped Carrion-Rosa at the store exit and detained him until police arrived.

Carrion-Rosa was placed under arrest and charged with shoplifting over $100 by concealing merchandise. The total value of the stolen merchandise was listed as $491.38.