Theft charges upgraded because of prior convictions, police say
An Upper Darby man was charged with felony retail theft after Upper Darby police say he attempted to leave a Home Depot without paying for nearly $200 in merchandise.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Upper Darby Police Officer Dean Dicrescenza, police responded to a call at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the Home Depot at 5300 Baltimore Pike.
According to the complaint, Dicrescenza arrived to find that Gerald Kenneth Garrett, 66, had been detained in the store’s loss prevention office by another Upper Darby police officer and a store loss prevention officer.
According to the store employee, Garrett left the store without paying for $194.28 worth of merchandise, which included motor, kerosine and laundry detergent. The store employee escorted Garrett back to the office and called police.
Garrett was a arrested and charged with one count of retail theft. The charge was upgraded to a felony because Garrett has six prior convictions, according to the criminal complaint.
Garrett was released on an unsecured $35,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is March 11.
