Blotter: Wire Cutters Used to Steal iPhone

The following information was supplied by the Springfield Police Department. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Retail Theft—Best Buy at about 3:13 p.m. on Jan. 8. Store security reported that they had a man in custody for a retail theft at the store. Patrolman Joseph O'Berg responded and took Melvin Roach, 24, of Philadelphia into custody and transported him to the Springfield Police Station. An investigation showed that Roach allegedly forcibly removed an iPhone, valued at $699.99, from a display and fled the store. He was later apprehended by a security officer on Baltimore Pike. Roach was found to be in possession of a pair of wire cutters when he was searched. He was transported to the Springfield Police Station and charged in connection with retail theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and possession of instruments of crime. Detective Bridget McCarthy is handling the investigation.

Retail Theft—Macy's at about 11:51 a.m. on Jan. 9. Store security reported that they had a young woman in custody for a retail theft at the store. Patrolman Patrick McKenna responded and took a 16-year-old Chester woman into custody and transported her to the Springfield Police Station. She was issued a citation for retail theft in connection with taking $149.99 worth of merchandise from the store. She was later released to a relative. The incident is under investigation by Detective Robert Nutley.

Retail Theft—Target in the 800 block of Baltimore Pike at about 11:17 a.m. on Jan. 12. Store security reported that two men were fleeing the store without paying for five Play Station game controllers. Patrolmen Sean Clifton and Michael Kingsbury arrived and located the men as they were leaving the store. They officers attempted to take the men into custody but they resisted and continued to try to flee. Kyle Kea, 19, and Lamar Logan, 23, both of Chester, were eventually subdued and taken into custody. They were transported to the Springfield Police Station and charged with retail theft in connection with taking $274.95 worth of merchandise from the store, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy, possession instruments of crime and disorderly conduct. Detective James Devaney is handling the investigation.