A sticky-fingered thief is accused of stealing more than $300 at a Butler bingo hall last week.

City police Monday charged the suspect, Larry J. Hoffman Jr., 35, no known address, with a misdemeanor count of theft.

The alleged victim, Jean Osche, was enjoying a night of bingo July 21 at the Cubs Hall on South McKean Street when she noticed the defendant had moved into a seat beside her.

“The victim thought it was weird at the time,” according to court documents, “because no one normally moves during a game.”

Moments earlier, police said, Osche had taken out her change purse to buy more bingo cards.

Following the game, in an apparent distraction ruse, Hoffman got up from the table and fell.

“The defendant caught himself with his hand,” a police affidavit said, “but his hand was inside the victim’s purse.” The suspect walked out of the event, sponsored by the Sons of Italy.

Another man at the bingo hall told police he saw the suspected theft.

The witness spotted the defendant take a white object out of Osche’s purse and place it into his pants pocket. The stolen object, police said, was the woman’s change purse, which contained $340.

Hoffman at the time of the bingo pilfering was free on his own recognizance following his arrest last month in a separate theft in Butler.

City police in that case allege the defendant on June 22 stole several items valued at more than $1,000 from a home in the 100 block of Mercer Street. The victim had allowed Hoffman to stay at the house for several days when he took the property, police said.

He is awaiting trial on charges of theft and receiving stolen property.