A Westbrook man is facing felony charges after allegedly using washers in coin rolls to pay for items at four local stores.

William P. Ledbetter, 37, was charged Monday with four felony counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

Police said the arrest was the result of an investigation into a complaint from the Big Apple store on Main Street that a suspect had paid for some items with a roll of “quarters” that was actually just a roll of washers.

Police followed up with other local businesses and determined the same suspect used rolls of washers to buy items at Good Things Variety on Saco Street and Dunkin’ Donuts and Cumberland Farms on Main Street.

Police said officers located Ledbetter on Quimby Avenue and arrested him without incident. He was booked into the Cumberland County Jail, police said.

Police said the charges were elevated to felonies because Ledbetter has a number of previous theft convictions.

William P. Ledbetter