Joshua McBride

A suspected diaper thief thought he made a clean getaway.

But Joshua M. McBride, 25, of Butler, already a six-time shoplifter, was eventually arrested Tuesday. An employee at the Butler Commons Walmart recognized the suspect from his prior crimes there, authorities said.

Butler Township police suspect in his latest caper he swiped diapers and wipes from the store Feb. 19. The items were valued at $111.

“An employee tried to stop McBride,” according to court documents, “but he walked out with the merchandise.”

Police reviewed store surveillance video and they, too, say they recognized him from “prior dealings.”

During an eight-day period last year, court records showed, he shoplifted from the same Walmart. The store subsequently barred him from all its properties.

He was arraigned following his latest arrest on a felony charge of retail theft. He also is charged with receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor, and defiant trespass, a summary.

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.

Police in charging documents noted that McBride has six previous shoplifting convictions.

His preliminary hearing is set March 15.