CORAOPOLIS — Police say a heroin addict pretended to be an employee at a western Pennsylvania Kmart so he could steal merchandise to feed his drug habit.

Thirty-four-year-old Charles Tankersley, of Emsworth, remains jailed on theft charges and it's not clear if he has an attorney.

Police say workers at the Moon Township Kmart noticed Tankersley Monday about 5:30 a.m. Although he wore a Kmart uniform, the employees didn't recognize him, telling police they believe he had stolen from the store before.

Police say Tankersley told them he was "just helping out at the store" before admitting he would use tools to remove anti-theft devices from merchandise.