A Jamestown man has been jailed on $25,000 bail after two theft incidents at neighboring stores less than a week apart.

Michael Lockerbie, 59, of Jamestown was charged March 18 with third-degree felony retail theft – taking merchandise, and driving while operating privileges suspended or revoked by Conewango Township Police for shoplifting that allegedly took place March 14. Lockerbie was then charged by Conewango Township Police on March 20 with third-degree felony retail theft – taking merchandise and defiant trespass for shoplifting that allegedly took place March 20.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Conewango police officers were notified of a reported theft from Lowe’s on Market Street. Store employees compiled a file with statements from store employees, reports, receipts, video footage and photographs detailing $1,943.98 in alleged thefts that had taken place between Feb. 19, 2025, and Feb. 24, 2025. Included in the file were photographs of a blue Kia Sportage licensed in New York. A search of police databases showed the same license plate registered to a 2013 Chevrolet Impala tied to a previous retail theft at Walmart in 2019. The registered owner of both vehicles is the same person living at the same address in Jamestown, N.Y.

Among items Lockerbie allegedly stole from Lowe’s over several days is a pair of scissors that he used to cut security devices off of a Dewalt drill and a brushless planer on Feb. 19, a Dewalt reciprocating saw, a Dewalt impact gun, several items from a Dewalt cut-out display, a Dewalt sander and a Dewalt oscillating tool.

Officers secured an arrest warrant for Lockerbie for the alleged Lowe’s thefts and, on March 20, were notified a vehicle identified as the same vehicle Lockerbie was allegedly driving during the Lowe’s thefts was seen near Warren Commons. Officers began to search the area for the vehicle and told Walmart’s loss prevention specialist that Lockerbie may be in the area. The Walmart employee then called police and said Lockerbie was leaving the Walmart store.

“I then approached the area and observed M. Lockerbie rapidly approaching his vehicle,” the officer said in the Affidavit of Probable Cause. “I then confirmed the license plate and activated my emergency lights. Mr. Lockerbie entered his vehicle. I exited my vehicle and approached the driver’s side and demanded Lockerbie exit his vehicle. I then grabbed his left arm and told him he was under arrest and he was wanted.”

The officer alleged Lockerbie struggled when the officer tried to handcuff Lockerbie, who was allegedly found with three packages of food seal plastic and steaks valued at $76.94.

According to the affidavit, Lockerbie had allegedly been told by Walmart employees he was not permitted on the property on March 15. Lockerbie also was allegedly convicted of retail theft in 2022 and 2019.

“I believe if the defendant is released he will continue to harm the community with continuous thefts, and will not appear for his scheduled court hearings due to his previous criminal history,” the officer wrote in the Affidavit of Probable Cause. “I am requesting a high cash bail to guarantee his appearance and protection for the community.”

In an unrelated incident, another New York man was charged with retail theft – taking merchandise and defiant trespass on March 20 by Conewango Township Police for an incident that allegedly took place March 11. Jerome F. Sullivan, 36, of Olean, N.Y., Walmart employees reported a man had stolen $511.58 worth of merchandise.

“(The employee) advised she believes the subject may be Jerome Sullivan as she believes it’s the same subject that was caught stealing merchandise from Walmart in Lakewood, N.Y.,” an Affidavit of Probable Cause states. “(The employee) advised that Jerome Sullivan was given notice of trespass from Walmart properties in October 2024.”