A Clarion County man is charged with theft after he stole from a Middlesex Township store--but not for its money.

Ronald L. Cotherman, 49, of St. Petersburg, Clarion County, allegedly took off with a portable telephone belonging to the Golden Apple Farm & Market on Route 8.

Police said Cotherman drove up to the store and went inside, telling an employee that someone was chasing him and he needed to borrow a phone to call 911.

The employee gave him a phone, which the suspect took out of the store. He is accused of driving away with the cordless phone, valued at $80.

But before Cotherman took off in his car, the employee got his license plate number.

A short time later, Cranberry Township police found the car and the suspect at the Streets at Cranberry shopping plaza on Route 19. The phone was recovered.

Cotherman is charged with a misdemeanor count of theft.