By LISA BACKUS
Herald staff

NEW BRITAIN — Police arrested a Bristol man Monday on charges he tried to steal an expensive pair of boots while carrying 24 bags of marijuana in his pocket.

Gregory Lamboy, 23, of 90 Davis Drive, Bristol, was in A.J. Wright clothing store on East Main Street when a security guard noticed him put on a pair of new boots and then continue shopping, police said.

“Loss-prevention personnel saw him take off his boots, put on a pair of new Timberland boots and start walking around the store looking at other items,” Sgt. Jeanette Saccente said. “He then bought a shirt and a pair of jeans and tried to walk out of the store with the boots on.”

Lamboy at first tried to give investigating officers a fake name, police said. He also attempted to hide a baggie of marijuana in the new jeans he had just purchased, Saccente said, “but he later gave his correct name and admitted he was trying to hide the marijuana.”

In total, police said they found he was carrying 24 small baggies of pot at the time of the incident. Court records indicate Lamboy has several convictions on drug and assault charges and was recently released from prison after being sentenced to jail for a violation of probation.    He was charged with interfering with police, sixth-degree larceny, possession of drugs within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of marijuana and possession with intent to sell.

Lamboy was held on $150,000 bond until his appearance in New Britain Superior Court today.