By Jim Clark

Police were called to the Target store on Somerville Ave. last week on reports of an alleged shoplifter being detained by the store’s loss prevention personnel.

Upon arrival, officers were told by the store’s staff that a man, Christopher Williams, 38, of  Medford, had been detained after reportedly attempting to leave the store without paying for merchandise that he had taken with him.

According to store security, Williams put six watches – valued at $334.62 ­– in a plastic bag and attempted to return them to a cashier for a refund.

When the suspicious cashier called over a supervisor Williams reportedly put the watches back into the bag and attempted exit the store, at which time he was stopped by loss prevention staffers and held until the police arrived.

Williams was placed under arrest and charged with larceny over $250.