$3.5K In Items Stolen In 2 Marple Township Thefts On Same Day

BROOMALL, PA — Police in Marple Township have arrested and charged a Philadelphia man in connection with two thefts on the same day that totaled $3,500 in stolen merchandise.

Matthew Lafferty, 34, of Philadelphia, was taken into custody on April 5 after police were called to the CVS at 1991 S. Sproul Road.

Police were called to the store at about 7:45 p.m. that day for a report of a theft, with the suspect running off.

Lafferty was identified by officers after they looked at security footage based on his previous interactions with police, authorities said.

About an hour later, Marple Police Detective Ronsvalle was speaking with staff at Acme about Lafferty and learned that Lafferty was inside the store hiding items in bags, police said.

Shortly thereafter, Ronsvalle saw Lafferty leaving the store without paying for any items in the bags, police said.

Lafferty then taken into custody.

The two thefts Lafferty committed on April 5 accounted for over $3,500 worth of stolen items, according to police.

Police said that total does not include the numerous other thefts Lafferty was associated with, in and around Marple Township, over the past several months.

Lafferty is being held on 10 percent of $50,000 bail and is scheduled for an April 25 preliminary hearing, court records show.