Easton Man Steals Basket of Food, Police Say

Two men entered the Giant supermarket in Bethlehem Township Tuesday afternoon and filled green portable shopping baskets with the makings for a tasty supper.

There were Johnsonville Beer Brats, baby back ribs, a bag of cooked shrimp and a bag of raw shrimp, and a can of lump crab meat – adding up to $181.82.

The men left the store without paying, court records say.

One of the men is now in police custody, thanks in part to a store patron who passed on the license plate number of the alleged getaway car, the records say.

Brian Edward Johnson, 36, listed as living in a side apartment at 120 W. Lincoln St., Easton, admitted to the theft, the records say.

A criminal complaint filed by township Patrolman Mark Demetrovic said the manager of the Giant on Route 191 was told by an unknown store patron that he saw two men leave the store with the green baskets and get into a white Chevrolet sedan.

The man gave the car’s license plate number to the store manager, who also had looked at surveillance video. It showed the men entering the store at 4:41pm and going to the meat and seafood area and filling the green baskets with products. They left at 4:47pm without paying.

Using the video and a check of store inventory as guidelines, the manager determined the men had stolen $181.82 in products.

Demetrovic discovered the Chevy’s license plate came back to a woman at the Lincoln Street address. He spoke to her at an interview Wednesday. She turned out to be the suspect’s fiancée.

At some point, Johnson joined her at the interview, where he admitted to the theft, Demetrovic writes. The officer also learned the name of the other man, who is not identified in the complaint against Johnson.

Johnson was arraigned Wednesday night by on-duty District Judge Jackie Taschner on a charged of retail theft. The judge committed him to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail.