Mass. Man Bagged on Shoplifting, Other Charges at Walmart

MANCHESTER, NH — A Bay State man was arrested and held yesterday after allegedly stealing items from the Walmart on Gold Street in Manchester, according to a police press statement. Joseph Hart, 35, of Milk Street in Westborough, MA, was arrested on Dec. 28, 2016, and charged with shoplifting, resisting arrest, and falsifying physical evidence.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

According to police, an officer was sent to the store for a report of a shoplifting in progress after Walmart loss prevention employees alleged that a man took several electronic devices, placed them in his backpack, and left the store.

“Loss prevention attempted to stop the male who fled on foot toward Hannaford’s,” according to Sgt. Michael Biron of the Manchester Police Department. "As (the) officer arrived, he spotted the suspect exiting an emergency exit door. The suspect spotted the officer and ran back inside Hannaford’s. Responding officers searched for the suspect only to find his discarded clothing and backpack containing the stolen items from Walmart.”

The officers eyed security camera footage from Walmart and took down vehicle information that the suspect – later identified as Hart – allegedly left in. The vehicle’s information was sent out by dispatch and a lieutenant located and stopped the vehicle on South Willow Street, according to Biron.

Hart was arrested and charged and is expected to be arrainged this morning.