SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Springfield police say a man tried to steal T-shirts from a store while his girlfriend was in another part of the business applying for a job.

Police said Monday that the 22-year-old was arrested on suspicion of stealing and second-degree child endangerment. Investigators said the suspect had been watching the woman's 8-month-old son and dropped the child when employees of Kohl's tried to hold him for police.

Staff members who witnessed the theft say they caught up with the man in the parking lot and brought him back inside.

Employees called police, who caught up with the man near the store.

Police said the man is not the father of the baby, who was safely returned to his mother.

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Information from: KY3-TV: http://www.ky3.com