A 30-year-old fugitive who escaped from a police station in Osaka Prefecture in mid-August has been arrested in Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for shoplifting rice cakes and other food at a roadside rest area after 48 days on the run, investigative sources said Saturday.

Junya Hida disappeared from Tondabayashi police station in the suburbs of the city of Osaka after his 30-minute meeting with his lawyer on Aug. 12.

A roadside security camera, installed on the south side of the station, showed a man matching his appearance and wearing similar clothing shortly after Hida absconded.