William Spencer

BUFFALO TWP — An employee was allegedly caught red-handed taking merchandise from the Giant Eagle store at Buffalo Plaza.

Already a five-time convicted shoplifter, authorities said, William J. Spencer, 33, of Buffalo Township was arrested early Wednesday morning while on the job. A search turned up an assortment of drug contraband in his pockets.

District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Spencer on a felony charge of retail theft and three misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail following arraignment.

The loss prevention manager told police that the store had suspected the defendant of stealing and had “been watching him for the past couple of nights,” according to court documents.

Police said Spencer's duties are to clean and maintain the store's floors after closing time.

The manager advised police that on Wednesday he had watched Spencer take several items and stash them outside the store near the loading docks.

He is accused of trying to take $4,440 in merchandise including vitamins, medicine, beer steins and water filters.

Police said when they searched Spencer they found an empty stamp bag of suspected heroin, a hypodermic needle and a spoon with suspected drug residue on it.

His preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday at Haggerty's office in Saxonburg.