Wal-Mart theft suspects identified as Plains residents

The Rush Township Police Department has positively identified two men suspected of stealing more than $2,000 in electronics merchandise from the Wal-Mart store in the HT Commons shopping center, Route 309, Hometown, on Saturday.

The two individuals were caught on the store's security cameras as they made their heist, and their photos were circulated through regional media and law enforcement outlets.

The thieves managed to steal three $498 laptops and four $169 Nintendo DSis, with a total value of $2,170.

Rush Township Corporal Duane Frederick, who is heading the investigation, said the two men are from Plains, Pa., and that warrants have been issued for their arrest.

"The Rush Township Police Department would like to thank all the media for the assistance with the thefts at Wal-Mart," said Frederick in an Email statement on Monday. "We have positively identified the suspects as 21 year-old Shane Pacewicz and 34 year-old Robert Cromer of Plains. Felony arrest warrants have been issued for both of the individuals."

Frederick attached photos of both individuals, with Cromer wearing a gray shirt and Pacewicz a red shirt.

According to Rush Township Police, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., two white males were inside the store for approximately an hour and stole merchandise, using as a getaway vehicle a mid 2000s Chevrolet Avalanche.

The culprits selected the merchandise, emptied a large toy box, stuffed other merchandise inside of it, and purchased that box without paying for the single items inside it. The thieves also brought along a $5 DVD, and then went through the stores's alarm system. When the alarm sounded, the suspects apparently acted like it was the $5 DVD that set it off.

During the incident, the store's surveillance video showed one of the suspects wearing a Philadelphia Eagles coat. That suspect went outside first, got in the vehicle, and then pulled it up near the front of the store to load up the merchandise, when the other suspect came out.

Anyone with any information on the incident or the whereabouts of the suspects is asked to contact Frederick at (570) 668-4242.