Police: Lehigh man stole from Redner’s, tried to strike pursuing clerk with car
TURKEY RUN – A Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County man is facing robbery and assault charges after borough police say he swiped merchandise from Redner’s and tried to strike a clerk with his vehicle.
The incident happened Jan. 2 at the Redner’s supermarket in the Gold Star Plaza.
Franklin James Crawford, 19, of 5685 Cricket Drive, is facing felony robbery, theft, summary retail theft, and misdemeanor simple assault charges for the incident.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Ptlm. Leo Luciani in Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker’s Shenandoah courtroom, Crawford was seen by a clerk leaving the store with a shopping basket filled with items he hadn’t paid for.
The clerk followed Crawford and tried to get his attention to no avail.
Crawford continued to his vehicle, a 2005 Jeep Liberty, placed the items inside, and got in the vehicle, all while ignoring the clerk. The clerk stood in front of the vehicle and Crawford drove off, making slight contact with the clerk, who stepped out of the way to avoid serious injury.
Crawford then fled the shopping center.
A witness saw the ordeal and managed to get a photo of Crawford behind the wheel of the fleeing Jeep, and the vehicle’s license plate number, which came back to Crawford. Police compared Crawford’s driver’s license photo, the witness’s photo and Redner’s security camera footage as well, and determined the actor was Crawford.
Crawford was arraigned Thursday, Jan. 5, and is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.
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