Authorities have caught up with a man who stole almost $600 worth of merchandise from the Shaw’s in Salem, and who is believed to be responsible for similar crimes in other towns.

Michael Meucci, 26, was picked up on unrelated drug charges in Lawrence, Mass., after authorities put out a message to Massachusetts State Police to be on the lookout for his car.

The loss prevention team for Shaw’s Supermarket at 92 Cluff Crossing Road in Salem caught a white male in his mid-20s leaving the store with $566.33 worth of Red Bull, baby formula and shrimp on Saturday, Aug. 23. No one was able to stop the man in time before he made his getaway with the groceries.

A similar occurrence with a suspect matching the description happened at the Shaw’s in Windham two days earlier. In that case, the man tried twice to leave the store with more than $500 worth of the same items stolen from the Salem location. Employees at the Windham location were able to stop the man both times before he left with the cart full of goods. They later called police.

The loss prevention teams from the two stores were able to coordinate, and by the time the man hit the Salem location that store’s employees knew about the Windham incidents.

Salem Police Detective Mike Rogers, who was investigating the crimes, found out similar incidents had happened in Derry, according to Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten.

During the Derry incidents, the suspect’s vehicle was identified. Derry police stopped the vehicle, which contained Meucci and Donald Pappalardo Jr., several days after the incidents. At the time, Meucci had not been named a suspect. In addition, he gave the Derry officers his brother’s name and did not produce definitive identification. The Derry officers had no reason to arrest Meucci or Pappalardo, who was driving, at the time.

“They had no idea on a suspect at that point,” said Patten. Patten said blood work was done after the fact to help determine Meucci’s real identity.

On Sept. 4, the Massachusetts State Police Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force had stopped the Hyundai Sonata both Pappalardo and Meucci were riding in, and arrested them on drug charges. Police found the clothes Meucci was wearing during the Salem theft, khaki shorts and a brightly colored T-shirt, in the vehicle. Salem police have issued a felony shoplifting warrant for Meucci, who is being held at Middleton House of Correction in Massachusetts on the drug charges. Police are seeking extradition to New Hampshire so Meucci can face his charges here.