A Texas man was arrested Tuesday night in Bangor after he allegedly bought thousands of dollars in merchandise from various stores with stolen credit cards.

Bangor police Officer Kevin MacLaren reported that at about 5:30 p.m. a man came into the station, saying his wallet had been stolen from his locker at Union Street Athletics on Griffin Road. The wallet had contained four credit cards and about $200. The man told MacLaren that he called his credit card companies, and one of them told him his card was used at the Bangor Mall.

MacLaren said he informed Officer Rob Angelo, who was at the mall investigating a possible credit card fraud.

Angelo reported that he spoke with a manager at G.M. Pollack & Sons who said a man had used three credit cards to buy a necklace for $879, and a bracelet for $599. The man wore both items out of the store. The manager said MasterCard called the store just after the man left, saying the credit card was stolen, but the manager could not find the man in the mall.

Angelo took a description of the man, who was reportedly carrying a bag from Olympia Sports. Angelo spoke with an Olympia Sports clerk who gave an identical description of the man. He had made two credit card purchases there, totaling about $200. The clerk told Angelo there was “something funny” about the man.

Angelo said Bangor Mall security had been helping a man locate his car in the parking lot. Angelo found the security vehicle and stopped it. Inside was a man matching both stores’ descriptions, still carrying the bag and wearing the necklace.

Angelo told the man, identified as Arthur Cosgro, 42, of Irving, Texas, that he had much bigger problems than a missing car. Angelo told Cosgro he knew his merchandise was bought with stolen credit cards and asked for the cards.

Cosgro handed the cards over, Angelo said, admitting they were stolen. Angelo said Cosgro started demanding that they find his car and became angry. Cosgro allegedly said, “I gave you the stolen cards, now let’s find the car.”

Cosgro threatened to run away, Angelo said, and warned Angelo that he should put him in handcuffs. Angelo complied. Cosgro then became belligerent, Angelo said, uttering slurs about Bangor and bragging about having served time in federal prison.

Angelo said he later found the car and got permission from its owner to search it. He found the stolen wallet and a video camera from Best Buy, also purchased with the stolen cards. Angelo said the total from Best Buy was $988.23.

Bangor police charged a Calais woman with theft after she allegedly stole earrings from a Bangor Mall booth.

Officer Rob Angelo reported that he spoke with a worker who told him she had seen the suspect, identified as Kelly Newell, 43, of Calais, take the earrings. Angelo said Newell told him she wanted to give them as Christmas gifts.

Newell returned the earrings and received a summons. She was escorted out of the Mall.

A Bangor woman’s watch was stolen from a locker at the YMCA Monday morning.

Officer Dan Herrick reported that the woman left her watch in a coat pocket in a locker at the YMCA at about 6 a.m. When she returned from swimming at about 7 a.m., the watch was missing.

The woman said the watch cost $400 when new. She will be checking local pawnshops.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball