An unidentified man fled a South Lawrence Wal-Mart Tuesday afternoon after his attempt to make off with more than $600 worth of items was foiled by a greeter, police say.

Police were called to the Wal-Mart at 3300 Iowa St. at 4:48 p.m., Tuesday after the suspect attempted to leave the store without paying for the items in his cart, according to Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police Department spokesman.

McKinley said the man — described as white and about 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds — had packed into his cart clothing, electronics, camping items, a baseball bat, luggage, a paring knife, a hatchet, an air purifier and other items whose value totaled $634.

A greeter stopped the man as he attempted to exit the store and asked him for a receipt, McKinley said, at which point the man fled the store. Police say he was last seen heading north toward Home Depot.

Nine police units responded to the call after initial reports indicated that the man had a large knife in his pocket, said McKinley, who added that the man did not, however, threaten anyone with the knife.