Two men charged with breaking into vehicle in Wyomissing

Security guards spotted two men breaking into a vehicle about 3:05 p.m. March 28 that was parked in a lot at the VF Outlet complex, in the 800 block of Hill Road in Wyomissing. The thieves ran away but borough police caught them after a quick chase.

The suspects, a 51-year-old and a 19-year-old, both from Reading, were each charged with conspiracy to steal from a motor vehicle, conspiracy to damage property, conspiracy to receive stolen property and conspiracy to commit theft. They were jailed in lieu of $10,000 each.

Woman who suffered asthma attack charged with theft

A woman accused in a Dec. 14 theft at VF Outlet in Wyomissing was charged last week with shoplifting.

Security guards at the outlet store in the 800 block of Hill Avenue stopped her for shoplifting about 1:36 p.m. Dec. 14. Police arrived and the woman said she was suffering from chest pains relating to her asthma. Rather than take her into custody, police called for an ambulance. Emergency workers took her to a hospital.

That didn't end her legal troubles. On Feb. 14, police charged the suspect, a 20-year-old Reading woman, with retail theft.

The initial police report didn't indicate the value of the merchandise she took.

Man charged in January theft from VF Outlet in Wyomissing

At about 2:55 p.m. Jan. 20, security guards at VF Outlet tried to stop three shoplifting suspects who ran away from the store in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. Police went after the suspects, but only caught one, at Sixth and Penn avenues in West Reading. The trio had stolen $335.87 worth of merchandise.

On Feb. 9, police charged the suspect they had caught, an 18-year-old Reading man, with retail theft and receiving stolen property. He faces a preliminary arraignment in March.

Shoplifting suspects try, and fail, to flee Wyomissing police

Security guards at VF Outlet tried to stop two thieves about 2 p.m. Jan. 29 from the shopping complex in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. The suspects stole $319.89 worth of merchandise. The shoplifters drove away in a truck, but they didn't get far. Borough police stopped them a few blocks away. The passenger jumped out of the truck at an intersection nearby. The driver tried to hide with the truck behind a nearby hotel. Police found them both and arrested the suspects.

*This post was updated to correct the date of the incident.

Charges dropped against three of four people suspected in counterfeiting scheme in Wyomissing

In February, four people were charged with dozens of counts of conspiracy, theft, forgery and other crimes stemming from an incident where police said counterfeit $100 bills were passed at VF Outlet and Berkshire Mall. On Feb. 17, charges against three of the four people accused were withdrawn. The fourth suspect, a 50-year-old Elmhurst, N.Y., man, remains jailed on all charges in lieu of $100,000 bail pending a hearing in April.

Teenagers charged with shoplifting from VF Outlet

Two Reading teens were charged March 7 in a shoplifting incident that took place the afternoon of Feb. 26 at VF Outlet, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. Police contacted their mothers after store security stopped the suspects. The mothers told officers the real ages of the suspects – both 18, though one had a birthday in January – meaning the men would be charged as adults. Police charged them both with retail theft, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy and providing false identification.

Woman charged with shoplifting in Wyomissing

Store security at VF Outlet called Wyomissing police about 1:17 p.m. March 4 after they stopped a woman who tried to steal $12 worth of merchandise from the store in 800 block of Hill Avenue in the borough. Police discovered the suspect, a 62-year-old West Reading woman, had multiple theft convictions and arrested her. She was charged with retail theft and receiving stolen property and jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Four charged in counterfeiting scheme at VF Outlet and Berkshire Mall

Four adults and a teenage girl visited Wyomissing from New York on Feb. 7, going to the Berkshire Mall and VF Outlet stores. They bought items worth $10 to $20 each, paying for the merchandise with $100 bills and pocketing the change. After trying this a few times at VF Outlet, they moved on to the Berkshire Mall, where borough police caught up with them.

The $100 bills, it turns out, were counterfeit.

Two of the suspects, a 20-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man, both from New York City, were spotted in the food court. He tried to run but officers stopped him and found five fake $100 bills on him. The teenager had more than $1,200 on her, as well as six counterfeit $100 bills in her bra and one in her wallet. Police confiscated the merchandise from nine stores she had been in.

The other two suspects were caught near a car with New York license plate. The men, a 50-year-old and a 24-year old, both from Corona, N.Y., told police they were with the others who had already been arrested. Officers confiscated the merchandise from VF Outlet stores in the car.

All four adults were charged with 19 counts each of receiving stolen property, corruption of minors, forgery, theft by deception and criminal conspiracy. The men were jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail. The 20-year-old woman was released on $75,000 bail.

VF Outlet employee reports theft from store in Wyomissing

Someone working at VF Outlets called police in the morning of Dec. 7 to report that $799 had been taken sometime between the close of business on Dec. 4 and opening time on Dec. 5.

Shoplifting suspect arrested at VF Outlet in Wyomissing

A man was stopped for stealing $494.83 worth of merchandise about 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at VF Outlet in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. The man had no previous convictions for theft. He did, however, have an outstanding traffic warrant and was turned over to constables for that. He also faces retail theft charges.

Woman charged with shoplifting from VF Outlet in Wyomissing

A 21-year-old Reading-area woman faces retail theft and receiving stolen property charges after Wyomissing police said she stole merchandise Sept. 8 from VF Outlet, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. She was initially given a summary citation but police filed the criminal charges Oct. 14.

Reading woman charged in shoplifting incident

Store security stopped a 20-year-old Reading resident for shoplifting Sept. 9 at the VF Outlet in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. She was caught with about $87 worth of stolen clothing. When police arrived, the suspect lied about her identity. She was charged Sept. 28 with retail theft, lying to police and providing false identification.

Women charged in July shoplifting incident

A 19-year-old Wernersville woman and an 18-year-old Womelsdorf woman were charged Sept. 13 with retail theft and other counts stemming from a shoplifting incident in July at VF Outlet in Wyomissing. Security guards at the store in the 800 block of Hill Avenue stopped the pair about 9:16 p.m. July 21 for stealing $199.94 worth of merchandise. Neither had previous arrests and were released at the time. Both now face criminal charges of retail theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.

Two face charges in shoplifting incident at VF Outlet in Wyomissing

Store security stopped two people about 1:24 p.m. Sept. 2 at VF Outlets, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing, for stealing $210.43 worth of merchandise. Borough police found neither had a previous theft conviction and released them. The pair face retail theft charges.

New York man faces charges after shoplifting arrest at VF Outlet

Two men were stopped about 4:09 p.m. Aug. 8 for shoplifting at VF Outlet stores, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. One of them lied to police about his identity, which led to more charges than just retail theft. The suspect, a 22-year-old New York resident, was charged with conspiracy to commit theft, forgery, retail theft, tampering with records and two counts of lying to police. He was jailed in lieu of $10,000.

Woman charged with shoplifting from VF Outlet in Wyomissing

A 33-year-old Reading woman was charged May 17 with retail theft and receiving stolen property after Wyomissing police said she stole nearly $216 in merchandise about 10:23 a.m. May 13 from VF Outlet, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in the borough. She had no priors so she was released pending a June court appearance.

Shoplifting suspect refuses to cooperate

Store security guards stopped a man for shoplifting $24 worth of merchandise about 3:04 p.m. Feb. 21 at VF Outlet in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. The suspect, who was from out of state, refused to sign any paperwork or pay restitution for the items he stole. Borough police arrested him and issued a citation for retail theft.

Two people charged with shoplifting from VF Outlet

Two Reading residents, a 41-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, were charged Feb. 13 with retail theft and receiving stolen property charges that stemmed from a Jan. 6 incident at VF Outlet, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. Store security stopped the two theft suspects who reportedly had taken $156.83 in merchandise.

Two stopped, one charged in theft at VF Outlet in Wyomissing

Wyomissing police stopped two people on suspicion of shoplifting about 2:45 p.m. Jan. 30 at VF Outlets, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing. One of them received a citation. The other suspect, a 23-year-old Wernersville man, was charged with retail theft and receiving stolen property and jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail.

VF Outlet employee charged with theft

Store security guards detained a 44-year-old employee at 1:39 p.m. Dec. 12 at VF Outlet, in the 800 block of Hill Avenue in Wyomissing, saying she stole $396 from the cash registers. Police arrested the woman, a Reading resident, and charged her Dec. 18 with theft and receiving stolen property.