An Andalusia man was jailed Tuesday for allegedly stealing more than $500 out of a wallet he found on a Wal-Mart counter.

Sgt. Raymond Dixon of the Andalusia Police Department said on March 12, the owner of the wallet made a purchase at the store’s jewelry counter, paid for his purchase and left.

“When he got to the parking lot, he realized he had forgotten his wallet on the counter, but by the time he got back, it was already gone,” Dixon said.

Dixon said Wal-Mart security officials were able to use video surveillance footage to track what happened after the wallet was left on the counter.

“What they saw was a man come to the counter, pick up the wallet, conceal it on his person and walk to the bathroom,” Dixon said. “While inside, the man the removed the cash and two debit cards. When he comes out, the video shows him discarding the wallet in the trash.”

Dixon said that man was identified Tuesday as 49-year-old Arthur G. Olmstead and charged with second-degree theft of property and two counts of illegal possession of a credit/debit card, as well as violation of probation.

Dixon said Olmstead did not try to use the debit cards and was out on probation on distribution charges.

“This case is a prime example of why people need to be aware of their personal property, because nowadays, we can’t count on people doing the right thing – which in this case, would have been turning the wallet in at the service desk,” Dixon said.

Olmstead is currently being held without bond in the Covington County Jail.