Anti-Theft Bill Makes it Easier to Become a Felon

A proposed law would lower the value needed for a felony charge in retail theft.

A new bill passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives could crack down on retail theft, or make it easier for someone to become a felon.  Under House Bill 1000 any incident of retail theft in which the value of the items stolen exceeds $1,000 can result in a third-degree felony charge. Before this bill the cutoff line for a felony charge of retail theft was $2,000. As the law exists now, there are a number of ways one can be charged for retail theft as explained below: The bill passed 195-0 in the House and now moves on to the Senate. Do you support this bill? Let us know what you think in the comments area below. 

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Police Blotter

Guard Assaulted in Target Store, Police Say

Springfield police charge a Philadelphia man after an altercation inside the Baltimore Pike store.

    A 20-year-old Philadelphia man faces simple assault, harrassment ad other charges after police say he assaulted a security officer while running from the Target store in the 800 block of Baltimore Pike last Monday. According to police, Target security reported a man had just fled the store at 12:51 p.m. on April 15.  Police say the store reported that the man was involved in a "retail theft incident and assaulted the security officer before fleeing." A Springfield patrol officer found the man in the 1200 block of East Woodland Avenue. Police say the man was identified by security and arrested. According to police "the man was charged with Retail Theft for taking $108.09 worth of merchandise from the store, Simple Assault, Harassment, …

• Photos (1)

Police Blotter

Trip to Mall Ends With Ride in Police Car

A Philadelphia man is charged with theft at Springfield Mall

  Editor's Note: The following information was provided by Springfield Police. Defendants in criminal cases are presumed not guilty until proven otherwise through due legal process. Retail Theft Target at the Springfield Mall at about 4:24 p.m. on Feb. 7. Store security reported that they had a man in custody for a retail theft at the store. Patrolman Joseph Prendergast responded and took a 23-year-old Philadelphia man into custody and transported him to the Springfield Police Station. The man was issued a citation for retail theft in connection with taking $95.43 worth of merchandise from the store. Detective Bridget McCarthy is handling the  investigation.

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Susan Danzi

1:01 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013

I agree with keeping a police officer at the mall & Best Buy! Too many thefts at both locations.   more ›

Police Blotter

Blotter: Teens Charged With Stealing From Macy’s

Also in this police blotter, property was stolen from a home on Wayne Avenue and a vehicle on Hillview Drive.

The following information was supplied by the Springfield Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction. Teens Charged With Stealing From Macy’s August 27: Macy’s Security reported that they had a young male and a young female in custody for Retail Theft at the store. Patrolman Andrew McKinney responded and took a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old female, both from Upper Darby, into custody and transported them to the Springfield Police Station. They were both issued citations for Retail Theft for taking a total of $96 worth of merchandise from the store. They were both later released to relatives. The incident is under investigation by Detective Robert Nutley. Wayne Avenue Resident Reports …

• Photos (1)

Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Man Steals More Than $5K in Macy's Merchandise

Two days later, police were called to Macy’s for another theft.

The following information was supplied by the Springfield Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction. Macy’s: Man Steals More Than $5K in Merchandise July 30: Macy’s Security reported that they had a male in custody for Retail Theft at the store. Patrolman Andrew Graff responded and took a 20-year-old Norwood man into custody and transported him to the Springfield Police Station. He was charged with Retail Theft for taking $5,489 worth of merchandise from the store and Receiving Stolen Property. The incident is under investigation by Detective Daniel McNeely. Driver Charged With DUI After Reckless Driving on Springfield Road July 31: While on patrol in the 100 block of E. Springfield Rd. …

• Photos (1)

Man Flees Target in Handcuffs

A man suspected of retail theft ran out of Target wearing handcuffs but police caught up to him.

On June 23 at 6:24 p.m. Target security in the 800 block of Baltimore Pike reported that a man had fled the store after allegedly stealing several men’s watches. Patrolman Stephen Hurwitz responded and the investigation showed the man fled the store wearing handcuffs security placed on him. A short time later, Morton police reported seeing the man running in the 1000 block of E. Woodland Avenue. He was stopped and identified by security as the person involved in the alleged theft. When searched, he was found in possession of the watches, a box cutter and wire cutters. He was taken to the police station and charged with retail theft for allegedly taking $339 worth of merchandise, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering …

• Photos (1)

PD Blotter: Screens Cut In Attempted Home Invasion

Screen windows were cut in attempt to enter a home. There are also several reports of retail theft.

The following information was supplied by the Springfield Township Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction. Man Charged with Simple Assault, Retail Theft Target security in the 800 block of Baltimore Pike reported on June 12 at 8:45 p.m. that they had a male in custody for alleged retail theft at the store. Patrolman Sean Clifton responded and took a resident of the 7100 block of Seaford Road in Upper Darby into custody and transported him to the police station. He was charged with retail theft for allegedly taking $361 worth of merchandise from the store, simple assault for struggling with security after being apprehended and disorderly conduct. Detective Bridget McCarthy is handling …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Police Blotter: Marijuana, DUI, Thefts

Six youths were allegedly smoking marijuana at Lehigh Circle Park.

Three Women Charged with Retail Theft Macy’s security reported May 22 at 9:13 p.m. that they had three females, one an employee, in custody for alleged retail theft. Patrolman Andrew McKinney responded and the investigation showed that the employee, Khaleah Durham, 19, of the 6100 block of Catherine Street, was allegedly under ringing merchandise for the other two women. Patrolman Stephen Hurwitz stopped one of the suspects as she was exiting the store. The other was apprehended during a transaction in the store. Courtnee Dean, 27, of the 5400 block of Westminster Avenue, Erica Brown, 23, of the 500 block of N. 54th St. and Durham were taken into custody and brought to the Springfield police station. They were charged with retail theft for…

• Photos (1)

Cop Stops SEPTA Bus to Make Arrest

A Springfield police officer stopped a bus to arrest a man for allegedly stealing from Macy's.

Macy’s security reported May 3 at 10:24 a.m. that a man was seen removing three bed comforters from a display and leaving the store without paying. Arlin Gordon, 50, of the 5300 block of N. 16th Street in Philadelphia, was approached by security in the parking lot. He dropped the items and entered a SEPTA bus leaving the lot. Patrolman Joseph Prendergast stopped the bus and Gordon was identified by store security, taken into custody and transported to the police station and charged with retail theft for allegedly taking $750 worth of merchandise from the store and receiving stolen property. Detective Daniel McNeely is handling the investigation. This information was supplied by the Springfield Township Police Department. Where arrests or …

• Photos (1)

Police Blotter: Purse Stolen at Church Plant Sale

A resident's purse was taken from under a display table while she was working a church plant sale.

The following information was supplied by the Springfield Township Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction. Car Dealer’s Window Smashed The Conicelli Auto Dealership in the 800 block of Baltimore Pike reported April 23 at 11:42 a.m. that sometime over the weekend someone threw a cinder-block through the windows on a vehicle parked in the lot of the dealership. Items Stolen from Yard A resident from the 400 block of Pinecrest Road reported April 23 at 5:34 p.m. that sometime during the last week someone stole a large copper pot, a lawn edger, a washing machine and an aluminum beer box from the rear yard of his home. Items Lifted from Locker A Springfield resident reported April 23 that …

• Photos (1)