Thefts reported at HT Commons Walmart

A North Carolina man found himself a guest of the Schuylkill County prison after shoplifting at the HT Commons Walmart in Hometown.

Rush Township police said Rhakim Lowery, 27, took merchandise valued at $249 from the retail store at 9 a.m. on Dec. 8. He was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer in Tamaqua on charges of retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Bail was set at $5,000, which Lowery was unable to post.

Two women have been charged in the thefts of Walmart employee's coats in recent days. The thefts occurred at the store in Hometown.

Melissa Hasara, 37, of Mahanoy City, was charged with theft after she took an employee's coat on Nov. 30. The coat was valued at $80.

On Dec. 2, an employee was working in the dairy section and went on a short break. When he returned from break, his coat and car keys were missing. Brandy Lorah, 25, of Barnesville was charged with theft in connection with the incident.

Rush Township police are handling the investigation.

Two Tamaqua residents were charged by Rush Township police after a shoplifting incident at the HT Commons Walmart on Dec. 3.

Dennis Helfrich, 43, was charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to commit retail theft after stealing items valued at $187.83. His accomplice, Elizabeth Tansley, 27, was charged with criminal conspiracy.

Rush Township police filed charges against two men in connection with a Dec. 8 shoplifting incident at the HT Commons Walmart in Hometown.

At 3:58 p.m., Corey Coleman, 31, of Tuscarora, and Joseph Etherington, 33, of Pottsville, were caught stealing merchandise at the retail store. Both men ran away, but were later apprehended with the help of Tamaqua and Kline Township police.

Coleman and Etherington were each charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Coleman took merchandise valued at $408.89, while Etherington took items valued at $733.62.