Marple Crime Blotter: TV Theft, Tear Gas Grenade Found, More

MARPLE TOWNSHIP, PA — Police in Marple Township issued their regular crime blotter last week.

The blotter features incidents that occurred March 14 and March 18.

Also featured in the blotter are reminders about township business during the new coronavirus outbreak.

See the full blotter below:

Reminders

The department's Records Division will be operating on a limited schedule. Records staff will only be available Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Records Division phone number is (610) 356-1500.

At this time, the department is still working fully staffed and operating normally. Officers will remain on patrol and available to respond to the needs of the community. The officers remain committed to protecting the community and providing assistance when needed. Please call 911 if you need to speak to a police officer. Also, Governor Wolf has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. March 19, to slow the spread of COVID-19.

March 14

Officer Ray Stiles responded to the rear of Dundee Mews after a tear gas grenade was found in the woods. Delaware County Bomb Squad personnel were contacted and confirmed that the teargas grenade could be removed and safely disposed of. There is/was no threat to public safety.

Walmart Loss Prevention personnel detained a 53-year-old Philadelphia resident after observing the male under ringing 21 items totaling $148.59 in a self-checkout lane. All of the stolen items were recovered and criminal charges are pending.

March 18

While Sergeant Stephen Benecke was in the Marple Crossroads Shopping Center, he was informed that a black male and a black female walked out of the store with a 32-inch TCL flat-screen TV. They were last seen getting into tan Honda Odyssey and heading south on State Road. Detective Nick Coffin is investigating the theft.

At 3:17 p.m., Officer Jerome Duncan responded to the Walmart at 400 South State Road for a retail theft incident. Loss Prevention personnel observed a 28-year-old female from Darby as she failed to scan 15 items valued at $151.55 while using the self serve checkout. All of the items were recovered. The arrestee had multiple prior convictions for retail theft and was subsequently charged with a felony retail theft charge.