MILTON — A New Columbia man has been charged with multiple counts of forgery after he allegedly used stolen checks to purchase more than $500 worth of merchandise.

State police at Milton said Allen Lee Diggan, 24, 2886 White Deer Pike, New Columbia, stole several checks while helping his employer’s father-in-law remove a tenant’s belongings from an apartment in Northumberland in May or June.

On June 1, Diggan wrote a check for $45 at a gas station in Turbot Township. On the same day, he went to Advanced Auto Parts in Kelly Township and purchased auto parts for $136.92, again writing a check and forging the signature.

The next day, Diggan went to Kuhns Brothers Surplus Outlet in Milton and purchased a variety of tools, including drill bits, levels, a hammer, weed trimmers, a pocket knife and a leaf blower, paying for the items with a check for $319.57, again forging the owner’s name.

He was charged before District Judge William F. Kear with three counts of forgery, three counts of theft by deception, four counts of receiving stolen property and four counts of theft by unlawful taking.