LORAIN, Ohio (AP) -- Police in northern Ohio have arrested a 17-year-old boy suspected of stealing hundreds of dollars in peanut butter cups from a gas station store over the past six months.

Police spotted the teen outside the store early Thursday, and a clerk identified him as the thief. Lorain police say the boy was charged with delinquency theft and was released to his parents pending a court appearance.

Store employees had reported a young man would come in usually after midnight, snatch Reese's peanut butter cups and exit the store before they could call police. Employees once tricked the bandit by cutting open the bottom of a box of candy so he fled with an empty container.

In all, officers say about $600 worth of candy was stolen.