Photo by James Short.
A man and woman were charged after stealing $12,000 worth of merchandise, fleeing by car, and causing an accident
The Upper Dublin Township Police are seeking the public’s assistance as they seek witnesses to an event on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Police were dispatched at 6:56 p.m. that day to a report of retail theft in process at Lululemon, located at 1104 Market St., in the Promenade at Upper Dublin, said the department via a press release. A male and female were reported to have stolen two large trash bags of merchandise from the store.
A responding officer observed the suspects outside of the store, loading the stolen merchandise into a vehicle, reports said. Police then attempted to stop the vehicle from leaving the scene, but the duo fled from police, driving up onto the pedestrian sidewalk, which was occupied by multiple patrons, to escape, said police. No pedestrians were struck by the vehicle, they said.
Police said that the vehicle fled the Promenade at a high rate of speed, traveling south on Dreshertown Road. Once the suspects approached Kirks Land, the suspect drove into the northbound lanes of Dreshertown Road and struck a responding police car, said reports. As the suspects’ vehicle was then disabled, the two fled on foot, police said.
According to reports, the female suspect approached and “forcefully banged on the window” of a vehicle that was not involved int the incident, though there was a driver inside. Police said the woman was attempting to gain access to the car but was unsuccessful. Police were able to take her into custody at that time, per reports.
The driver of the uninvolved vehicle was not injured as a result of the attempted robbery, police said. Soon after arresting the woman, police apprehended the man “a short distance from the crash scene,” said reports.
The stolen property from Lululemon, valued at approximately $12,000, was recovered and returned to the store, police said. Reports stated, however, that two officers did sustain minor injuries during the crash and arrest of the suspect.
The female was identified as Karimah Choice, and the male was identified as Randolph McCrary, both of Philadelphia. Choice was charged with organized retail theft, attempted robbery, aggravated assault, fleeing and eluding police, and other related offenses, according to police. McCrary was charged with organized retail theft and related offenses, as well, police said.
An investigation into the incident revealed, according to reports, that the two had been involved in two previous retail thefts from Lululemon. Police said that all investigations are ongoing in the matter.
The Upper Dublin Township Police Department was assisted by the Upper Moreland Township Police Department and the Horsham Township Police Department during this incident. Any members of the public that witnessed the incidents at the Promenade at Upper Dublin, at the crash site, or at the arrest sites are encouraged to contact the Upper Dublin Township Police Department via the nonemergency number at 215-646-2101 or email udpd@udpd.us.
