ADAMS TWP — A 19-time convicted shoplifter is again accused of the same crime — this time for swiping two cartons of cigarettes from a drugstore in the township, police said.

The suspect, Sherman S. Jones, 35, of Pittsburgh, is wanted on a felony arrest warrant in the alleged theft Nov. 22 at Walgreen’s at the Adams Shoppes plaza.

A cashier told police that she was waiting on Jones, who said he wanted to buy two cartons of Newport cigarettes. She said when she turned her back for a moment, he ran off with the smokes, valued at $124, according to documents.

Police said they reviewed store surveillance video that showed the thief entering the store and moments later driving away in a sport utility vehicle or minivan.

During the investigation, police identified Jones as their suspect after learning that on Nov. 19 he had allegedly stolen four cartons of Newport cigarettes from a drugstore in Ross Township, Allegheny County.

Adams Township police on Nov. 27 got an arrest warrant for Jones on felony counts of retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Police in charging documents noted that Jones has 19 prior shoplifting convictions.

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

All of Jones’ past retail theft convictions dating back nine years ago occurred in Allegheny County, except for two in Butler County in 2004, court records showed.

In his most recent shoplifting convictions, he was sentenced July 9 to serve 3 to 6 months in the Allegheny County Jail.

His extensive criminal history also showed convictions for felony drug possession, theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception.