WESTPORT — A 55-year-old man, accused of stealing credit cards and racking up thousands of dollars in illegal charges in two separate incidents last year, faces a litany of criminal charges after being taken into custody last week.

Dean Henton, of Stratford, was arrested May 26 on a total of 36 criminal counts in connection with the alleged thefts.

The first incident was reported last July 16 when police were called to investigate the theft of an American Express credit card reported at a Post Road East business.

The stolen card was was used to make purchases totaling more than $1,500, according to the report.

The detective investigating the case obtained video surveillance footage of the suspected thief using the stolen credit card. When the video was shared with area police departments, a fellow detective identified the suspect as Henton, police said.

A warrant for Henton’s arrest was issued, and after being taken into custody, he was charged with third-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny, eight counts of third-degree identity theft, two counts of criminal attempt at third-degree identity theft and failure to submit to fingerprinting.

Henton also faces additional charges in connection with the theft of a wallet reported last Nov. 8 at a Post Road West business.

The complainant told police that several credit cards in the stolen wallet had been used to make purchases totaling more than $1,600, according to the report.

Once again, police said, video surveillance footage circulated among area police departments was used to identity Henton as the suspect in the case.

Another warrant for Henton’s arrest was issued, and after he was taken into custody May 26, he was formally charged with these additional offenses: fourth-degree larceny, five counts of illegal use of a payment card, five counts of payment card theft, five counts of receipt of money/goods/services by illegal use of a payment card, five counts of third-degree identity theft, criminal attempt at fifth-degree larceny and failure to submit to fingerprinting.

Henton’s bond in each case was set at $100,000, and he was held for arraignment on all of the charges later that day at state Superior Court in Stamford.