A man who had a pattern of asking good Samaritans to help him pay for car parts is behind bars, said Cape Girardeau police.

James H. Powell Jr., 36, of Thebes, Ill., is charged with four counts of stealing by deceit and three counts of attempted stealing by deceit.

According to a probable-cause statement filed by patrolman Jason Selzer, Powell ran a scam in which he told people his vehicle was broken down and that he needed money to repair it.

He'd ask for specific amounts like $16.43 or $18.60 to pay for an alternator or a car battery, said Selzer.

When people gave him money, usually $20, Powell would get their addresses, promising to pay them back within the week, which never happened, Selzer said in the affidavit.

Residents who complained to police said Powell drove a maroon four-door vehicle with Illinois license plates.

One man, Jason Emmenderfer, had already caught wind of the scam and told Powell so when he approached him Feb. 27 in the parking lot in front of K's Merchandise, police said.

Emmenderfer copied Powell's license plate number and turned it over to police. Other witnesses picked Powell's picture out of a photograph lineup, Selzer said.

Powell was arrested Thursday and remains in jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond.