Boscov's Staff Foiled Couple's Shoplifting Attempt, Police Say

Police arrived at a Palmer Park Mall entrance Saturday night and found a man on the ground—held down by loss-prevention officials from Boscov’s.

The man, Todd R. Hoadley, 43, of Upper Nazareth Township, allegedly tried to steal about $242 in clothes—mostly summer wear—and had been helped by his girlfriend, who had gotten away, according to the loss-prevention officials and 911 dispatchers.

The Boscov’s loss-prevention officials said Hoadley and his girlfriend were taking clothing and putting it into an “aerie” bag, according to a criminal complaint filed by Palmer Officer Kenneth McPherson.

The officials stopped Hoadley outside the mall around 8:15 p.m. and held him down by the entrance to the mall’s pet store. They said his girlfriend, whom the complaint did not identify, got away but did not know if she fled on foot or in a vehicle.

The clothing that Hoadley and his girlfriend tried to steal, according to the complaint, included two pairs of Wearfirst shorts, each valued at $48; four T-shirts of various sizes—two from Adidas and two from Nike—each valued at $22; a pair of white extra-large pants valued at $28, and a pair of white medium feather pants valued at $20.

Hoadley, of 2880 Blossom Hill Road, was arraigned at 1:15 a.m. Sunday by on-duty District Judge Jackie Taschner of Palmer Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail.

Hoadley is no stranger to Palmer police. He had been charged in a June 2012 retail theft in the township and pleaded guilty on Feb. 7 of this year in Northampton County Court, according to court records.

Hoadley also is no stranger to police in his home township of Upper Nazareth. About two weeks after the alleged 2012 retail theft, Hoadley lied when he said he was punched in the face at his home by a Palmer detective, court records say. In that same case, authorities said, Hoadley’s claim that his girlfriend, his daughter and his daughter’s friend witnessed the assault was also a lie.

On Dec. 13, 2012, Hoadley pleaded guilty in county court to charges of corruption of minors, false reports and intimidating a witness, online court records say.

And in yet another case, Hoadley admitted in April 2011 that he threatened three girls who argued with his then-13-year-old daughter, telling them he was a Nazi and could have their families killed. He was sentenced in county court to three to six months in prison, according to a previously published story.