Man attempts to steal Segway, Elf on a Shelf in $1,600 theft from Sam's Club, according to police

Upper Moreland Township police investigated a retail theft at the Sam’s Club store on Welsh Road after store staff reported a cart of merchandise being pushed out of the building without payment.

According to police, officers were dispatched to the Sam’s Club at 3925 Welsh Road on Nov. 11, 2025, after the store reported a theft that had occurred earlier in the afternoon.

When officers arrived, they met with a loss prevention officer who said she witnessed the incident. Security told police that they recognized the suspect, later identified as Andrew Philp Roman, 37, of the 4700 block of Almond Street in Philadelphia, from an earlier encounter in the store in which he was behaving suspiciously near the entrance and had been asked to leave.

At about 1:08 p.m., security again recognized the same man inside the store with a shopping cart filled with merchandise near the member services area. When the man pushed the cart through the entrance doors without paying, she told him to stop, but he ignored the command and continued into the parking lot.

Surveillance footage showed the suspect wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, dark sweatpants with a white stripe, light-colored sneakers and a dark knit cap with sunglasses on top. Police said the man had a full beard and was seen loading the items into a black GMC Acadia.

Police reported the stolen items included a Segway, a Dyson vacuum, a portable power station, tools, electronics and other merchandise, with a total value of $1,674.52.

Police said Roman later allegedly admitted to the theft and returned most of the stolen merchandise to the Upper Moreland Township Police Department.

Items allegedly stolen include:

The Elf on the Shelf: $39.94

Hover Star Motion-Controlled UFO: $14.98

AA Batteries (48-pack): $17.98

Power Bank (10,000 mAh): $34.92

Segway: $499.00

Mini Steel Toolbox: $22.78

30-oz. Tumbler: $27.98

Philadelphia Eagles Blanket: $49.98

Dyson Vacuum Cleaner: $439.98

Gerber 3-Piece Knife Set: $27.98

EcoFlow River 2 Max Portable Power Station: $499.00

Total reported value: $1,674.52

Roman faces a felony charge of retail theft.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Thomas P. Murt.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.