ALPENA — An Alpena Walmart shopper faces a retail fraud charge after store workers allegedly caught him trying to purchase items at the wrong price.

The shopper, identified by police as Joseph Alexander, 36, of Alpena, caught the attention of a cashier when barcodes scanned at the register didn’t match the items presented for purchase.

An associate from the store’s loss prevention department had observed Alexander removing barcodes from store items and placing them on higher-priced products, according to police.

When the cashier questioned Alexander about the incorrect barcodes, Alexander said he had to go outside and check on his children and then fled, police said.

Police reviewed security footage of multiple incidents beginning in June and determined that Alexander stole more than $1,100 from the store.

Police arrested Alexander on Tuesday. He was arraigned the same day in the 88th District Court on one count of first-degree retail fraud as a habitual offender.