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| James Fagan |
A Philadelphia man arrested Saturday morning for stealing change jars was arrested again hours later after he allegedly slipped out of Bensalem police headquarters and then shoplifted clothing.
Bensalem police first encountered James Fagan, 29, shortly after the manager of a convenience store in the 2200 block of Lincoln Highway reported someone stole three charity boxes from a front cash register shortly after 8:30 a.m.
Store surveillance video revealed a man — later identified as Fagan — removing the boxes containing an undisclosed amount of money and placing them in a plastic shopping bag, according to a probable cause affidavit. An accomplice, identified as Amber Fry, 29, also of Philadelphia, helped Fagan distract the cashier, according to the affidavit.
Fagan was dressed in the same clothes he wore in the video surveillance when police later found him and Fry at an Old Lincoln Highway motel, the affidavit said. Police also found a “large amount of change” in his motel room, according to the affidavit.
He asked the detective if he was arrested for stealing the change at the convenience store, according to the affidavit.
From there, though, Fagan’s bad day turned worse.
While detectives interviewed him at police headquarters for the alleged charity box thefts, they learned Fagan had two outstanding warrants, one for a probation violation from a burglary conviction. Fagan was told he was under arrest and not free to leave, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
But that’s exactly what he did, police said.
After talking with police, Fagan was left alone in the interview room to write a statement regarding the convenience store theft.
A short time later, a detective returned to find the room empty. A check of police headquarters turned up no sign of Fagan, who was barefoot, according to police.
Police searched the surrounding area and received information that a man matching Fagan’s description may have entered the Kohl’s department store on Knights Road, less than a mile from police headquarters.
Further police investigation found that Fagan allegedly took clothing from a home, then entered Ross and Kohl’s, where he allegedly stole $200 worth of merchandise.
When police checked the Kohl’s bathroom, they found Fagan wearing new clothes and shoes. He was also clean shaven, the affidavit said.
Fagan was arraigned Saturday on charges in connection with the charity box thefts including receiving stolen property, theft and conspiracy — first-degree misdemeanors that carry a maximum five-year prison sentence.
He was also charged with escape — a third-degree felony that carries a maximum seven-year prison sentence — as well as two more first-degree misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property charges. He was sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of $50,000/10 percent bail.
His accomplice, Fry, was also charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, theft, and conspiracy in connection with the charity box theft. She also was sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of $15,000/10 percent bail.
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