A five-time shoplifter is accused of again trying to steal store merchandise — this time, caffeine tablets and skin lotion.

Wesley M. Gibson Jr., 41, of Butler faces a preliminary hearing next month on his latest charge — felony retail theft.

Butler police said they were called to the Dollar General store on North Main Street around 6:10 p.m. Aug. 11 for a reported shoplifting. A manager allegedly told officers she caught Gibson trying to take Jet-Alert caffeine pills and Vaseline lotion, worth a combined $7.63.

The defendant had placed the items in a plastic bag from another store that he had with him, according to charging documents.

The manager approached Gibson and a woman he was with, advising the suspect that she could see the allegedly stolen merchandise through the bag.

The defendant and the woman left before officers got there, but police were able to identify them from store surveillance video. Gibson was arraigned Aug. 14 and released on his own recognizance.

Police noted in documents that the defendant has five prior shoplifting convictions.

While normally a summary or misdemeanor offense under state law, retail theft is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property's value when a suspect has at least two prior convictions for the same crime.

Gibson's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16.