UPPER CHICHESTER, PA — Upper Chichester Township Police Department and Lower Chichester Police Department said a 63-year-old man was arrested following two alleged robberies in Delaware County that investigators linked through surveillance footage, license plate reader data, and evidence recovered during the investigations.
According to Upper Chichester police, officers responded at about 10:16 p.m. Saturday to a reported robbery at the ACME supermarket on the 600 block of Conchester Highway.
Investigators alleged a man approached an employee working in the self-checkout area and asked for help making change. While the cash drawer was open, the suspect allegedly claimed he had a firearm and demanded money from the register before fleeing the store on foot with cash, police said. No injuries were reported.
Through the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Phillip Edward Harris, 63. According to investigators, surveillance footage, license plate reader data, and evidence tied to a separate Lower Chichester investigation allegedly connected Harris to the robbery.
Earlier that day, Lower Chichester police said officers were dispatched at about 12:26 p.m. to the Wawa on the 1400 block of Market Street in Linwood for a reported theft.
According to investigators, Harris allegedly stole cartons of cigarettes after leaving his wallet on the cashier counter. Police said officers recovered Pennsylvania identification belonging to Harris from the wallet.
Investigators alleged surveillance footage showed Harris pacing near the front of the store before allegedly grabbing a bag containing two cartons of cigarettes from behind the counter. A store employee attempted to stop him, but police said Harris allegedly pulled the bag away before gathering the dropped cigarettes and fleeing the business.
Lower Chichester police said the suspect fled in an Acura TSX sedan with a yellow paper covering the registration plate. Investigators later identified the vehicle and linked it to the Upper Chichester robbery investigation.
According to police, multiple local departments and the Pennsylvania State Police assisted in locating the vehicle on Sunday morning. Harris was taken into custody without incident following what investigators described as an extensive multi-jurisdictional pursuit.
Upper Chichester police charged Harris with robbery, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, terroristic threats, and reckless endangerment.
Lower Chichester police charged Harris with robbery-inflict threat of imminent bodily injury, retail theft, robbery-taking of property by force, receiving stolen property, harassment, disorderly conduct, improper display of registration plate, and driving without a license.
Police said bail was set at 10% of $50,000 for the Lower Chichester case and 10% of $100,000 for the Upper Chichester case.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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