PORTLAND — Portland police are searching for a local man on charges he slipped into an office at Becky’s Diner and swiped cash.

Portland police are looking for James Emerton, 46, on two charges of theft and two charges of burglary, and say he has a history of the same behavior – entering businesses while they are open and taking money, sometimes from a safe, or grabbing items, like a pocketbook.

In the thefts from Becky’s on April 23 and May 23, security video showed Emerton entering the business and then the back office where he allegedly took more than $1,000 the first time a lesser amount the second, police said.

In 2005 he was sentenced to five years in prison for theft. In 2003, he was confronted by a resident in a State Street apartment and dropped the item he was holding. Police matched a fingerprint from that item to Emerton’s that was on file in a database, leading to his arrest.

Anyone with information is asked to call 874-8575 or text a tip by texting the number 274637 (CRIMES) – text the word ”GOTCHA,” then the information.

Copy the Story Link