Police Warn of Retail Theft Among Children In Northampton Twp.

NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA —The Northampton Township Police Department is asking residents to talk to their children about retail theft as reports have come in from several township businesses.

"Please inform your children that retail theft will not be tolerated in Northampton Township," police said in a recent Facebook post. "We have spoken with several businesses who have provided in-depth detail of kids causing issues. We understand that the few troublemakers are causing a bad name for the respectful children and we intend to put a stop to it."

Police said they will be visiting local retail businesses frequently, "so next time they grab that beverage and start to walk out without paying, we may be waiting in the parking lot."

Police also cleared up a report that a group of teenage kids had walked into a local retail store, locked the door, and robbed it.

Police that the store owners said the incident never took place and that the store always locks the one entrance at a certain time and that may have been why the locked door was mentioned.

"With that being said, Northampton Township is an amazing community and we intend to keep it that way," the police department said.

Police also warn about the charges that children can face if they are involved in retail theft. See the chart below.