CLACKAMAS, Ore. -- Police are searching for a man who they said stole a credit card out of the mail and then tried to use it at a store.

Police said the thief took off before they could arrest him.

On Wednesday, someone tried to use a stolen credit card to buy an MP3 player, police said.

"I was like surprised, because I had a plan for my wife and my daughter to get them stuff for Christmas," the victim named George said.

It all started after he filled out an application for a J.C. Penney credit card.

George, who didn’t want his identity shown, said he applied for the card weeks ago, but it never showed up.

"It was awful weird that we’ve been waiting and waiting for this card to come," George said.

He said on Wednesday his wife got a call from the corporate offices of J.C. Penney.

"The lady says, 'Well, we’ve got a man here who is trying to use your husband’s card,'" George said.

A surveillance camera captured images of the man the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said tried using that card.

But when a worker asked for the man’s ID, he said he didn’t have any.

"I’m really surprised that there’s people out there that would do this to someone," George said.

He said he decided to check his wife’s mailbox after realizing she didn’t receive mail a few days earlier.

"So me and my daughter went over there to look at it, and you could tell it was broken into," George said.

He said he thinks the man broke into his wife’s mailbox and stole the credit card.

George said the man charged $89 to the card before J.C. Penney confiscated it, but that charge was voided.

"I feel that if someone does the crime they need to do the time," George said.

The thief is described as a white man in his late 30s to 40s, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds with a skinny build and medium-length blond hair.

Anyone with information about the thief should call the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Man Uses Credit Card Stolen From Mail