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Redial Leads To Theft Suspect's Arrest

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP/KDKA) - Police say a suspect's phone call from a convenience store telephone helped them to charge him with stealing $142 worth of change from the business.

The Altoona Mirror reports 32-year-old Jason Comer, of Pittsburgh, has been charged with theft Saturday afternoon at a Sheetz store in Logan Township.

That's near Altoona, about 85 miles east of Pittsburgh.

A clerk told police that a man asked to use the phone because he was out of gas before grabbing a change dispenser attached to the store's cash registers.

The papers reports when Logan Township police responded, Officer Matthew Lutz simply pressed the redial button on the phone, and when a woman answered, he identified himself and asked who he was speaking with.

After the woman told Lutz her name, he asked who had just called her from Sheetz.

After telling Lutz it was Comer, the woman proceeded to tell the officer that Comer was driving her green Ford Escape and gave him the last four digits of the license plate, according to police.

Police also identified Comer from surveillance video and found him nearby, waiting for a tow truck.

Online court records don't list an attorney for Comer who remained jailed Tuesday.

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(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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