Accused shoplifter catches a taxi to Best Buy, walks out with laptops
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. December 25 2018 – Authorities said they arrested a New Jersey man for shoplifting after he returned to the scene of the crime via taxi the very next day.
Bethlehem Township police were dispatched to the Best Buy off Freemansburg Avenue Dec. 18 after store security reported seeing an alleged shoplifter, who had been in the store a day earlier. The man later identified as Brody Bodine Crowley allegedly walked out of the store with three laptops, a magnetic Apple charger and an iPad case worth about $930, according to court records.
Store security said they spotted him again wearing the exact outfit as the day before. Authorities detained the 26-year-old and reviewed surveillance video allegedly showing him walking out the door with the unpaid merchandise, according to records.
Waiting outside for Crowley was a taxi service that drove him to the Best Buy. The driver told police that she had driven Crowley the day before to a Walmart in Lower Nazareth Township and the Best Buy. After he finished “shopping,” she drove him to a pawn shop in Easton.
Store security continued to review surveillance footage to see if Crowley allegedly stole additional items.
Bethlehem Township police also discovered two arrest warrants for Crowley out of New Jersey, one for burglary in Hunterdon County and one for a probation violation in Somerset County.
Crowley, of Alpha in Warren County, was arraigned on single counts of shoplifting and receiving stolen property along with the outstanding warrants. He failed to post bail and was sent to Northampton County Prison to await preliminary hearings scheduled for Jan. 3.
