Bloomingdale's at Willow Grove Park Mall (Image courtesy of Google StreetView)
Police said man stole various fragrances from the department store.
Local police were called to the mall for a theft in progress, and after investigating the matter, made an arrest of a man with multiple prior convictions for retail theft.
The Abington Township Police Department said they were called out on Nov. 19 around 4:26 p.m. for a theft in progress at the The Bloomingdale’s at Willow Grove Park Mall. According to the police criminal complaint, an employee of the store called police to advise them that a man, described as a “shorter black male wearing a gray and black hemp material hoodie, carrying a gold bag” was headed toward the mall’s SEPTA bus stop.
Police said that they were able to locate that the man, matching the employee’s given description, was standing at the bus shelter. According to the complaint, police pulled up close to the stop to have the employee confirm the identity, which they did.
The suspect reportedly looked at the police car and ran toward the home decor store, though police said they were able to “catch up to” him and identify the man.
Devonta Paulk, 29, of the 5200 block of Walnut Street in Philadelphia, was seen by the employee inside the Bloomingdale’s store, said the complaint. According to the reports to police, the employee saw him “select two fragrance testers and conceal them in a black bag.” The report continued, stating that Paulk also took two Prestige fragrances on display for sale, and place them in the same bag. Police said that the perfumes were valued at $105 each, totaling $220 in total stolen goods.
According to police, Paulk made no attempt to purchase the merchandise in his possession. Upon searching the man, police said they located a “waist bag” with a “small glass pipe containing burnt residue and several small plastic vials containing a small amount of crack cocaine.”
In further investigating the matter, police said that Paulk had a criminal history, which showed he was convicted for retail theft three prior times. As such, Paulk faces a felony-grade charge of retail theft by the taking of merchandise, as well as misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property, the use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and evading arrest or detention on foot.
Paulk remained in county jail until Nov. 27, when he was released on a $5,000 unsecured bail following a preliminary hearing. He is scheduled for a formal arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Juanita A. Price on Jan. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
