Rush Twp. police make theft arrests

Rush Township police have made the following arrests.

Brittany M. Leiby, 20, and Eric J. Spalding, 20, both of Lansford, are facing retail theft charges after allegedly stealing merchandise from the Walmart store on March 9.

Stacy L. Smith, 41, Lehighton, is facing trespassing charges from an incident at Walmart on March 10 at 1:20 p.m.

Leanne M. Phipps, 51, Hometown, was charged and arraigned by District Judge Steven Bayer, of Tamaqua, on felony theft by deception and receiving stolen property charges on March 10, after she used her roommate's credit card without her knowing and made several thousand dollars worth of purchases over the Internet. Bail was set at $5,000. She was unable to post the required 10 percent and was transported to the Schuylkill County prison.

Barbara A. Francis, 51, of Tamaqua, was charged and arraigned on felony theft by unlawful taking or disposition receiving stolen property charges after she removed a boiler from her old residence at 1 Golf Road on March 10. Francis is free on unsecured bail.