Charges upgraded because of prior convictions, police say
A Philadelphia man faces felony retail theft charges after Marple Police say he attempted to steal merchandise from the Burlington Coat Factory on the 400 block of State Road.
According to a criminal complaint, police responded to a call from the store and found John Thomas Jones Jr. sitting on bench outside a nearby store. Police said Jones admitted to attempting to steal items from the store, and a Burlington Coat Factory employee identified Jones as the would-be thief.
The employee said Jones concealed the items in a bag he had brought into the store and attempted to leave without paying. When confronted, he dropped the bag and fled, the employee said.
Jones was arrested and is being held at the Delaware County Jail after failing to post 10 percent of $1,000 bond. He is set for a preliminary hearing Feb. 20. He faces one count of retail theft, which was upgraded to a felony because he has five prior convictions, police said.
