Police say a Mississippi man is behind bars in St. Tammany after being caught stealing pens from the Sheriff’s Office administrative complex in Slidell yesterday.

St. Tammany Sheriff Spokesman George Bonnett says Edward Alan Lucas (above) came to the Slidell building yesterday with the stated intention of obtaining a copy of a police report.  Bonnett says while the clerks were pulling the file, they noticed Lucas acting suspiciously, walking up and down the area in front of the records division’s counter.

Police say after Lucas left the building, the clerks noticed three pens, normally on small metal chains at the service windows, were missing.  Officials say video from the complex’s surveillance system showed Lucas detaching the pens from the chains and putting them into his pocket.

Bonnett says detectives "made contact with Lucas this morning and arranged for him to meet them at the complex."  When he arrived, police say the man admitted to stealing the pens.

Lucas was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on one count of misdemeanor theft.