Here’s the latest on the illegal store police say was operated using the stolen goods
UPDATED: Friday, 1:24 p.m.:
Falls Township police said they will holding a press conference late Friday afternoon with more information on the case.
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Original story:
Three men were arrested Thursday and charged with stealing from Rite Aid.
Philadelphia residents Juan Agosto, 36; Edwin Burgos, 36; and Miguel Ortiz, 40, were arraigned Thursday on charges of theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property. They were all sent to Bucks County prison on 10 percent of $75,000 bail. On Friday, Agosto was able to post $7,500 bail.
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According to Falls Township police, the loss prevention office at the Rite Aid warehouse in Fairless Hills was made aware last week that a Rite Aid tractor-trailer was meeting up with another vehicle at a parking lot in the 200 block of Canal Street. GPS on the tractor-trailer confirmed the truck stopped in the parking lot.
On Thursday around 2:50 a.m., police were called by a Rite Aid loss prevention officer who witnessed the tractor-trailer, which was driven by Ortiz, stop in the parking lot. The company employee said she witnessed a green Dodge pickup truck pull up with an empty bed pull up. A short time later, numerous totes were spotted in the the back of pickup, according to court papers.
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Police stopped the green pickup truck after it pulled away from the tractor-trailer and detained Agosto and Burgos. During the Lower Morrisville Road traffic stop, officers noted there were “numerous storage totes in the pickup and additional merchandise in the back seat,” court papers read.
A Rite Aid employee confirmed the items belonged to the drug store chain. Police said totes contained soaps, cleaning supplies, make up and paper products. In total, the merchandise was worth $2,000.
Agosto told investigators that he met Ortiz a week ago in Philadelphia and purchased cleaning products from him, according to court papers.
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“If you want some Rite Aid stuff, come up with some more money. I’ll get you what you want,” Ortiz allegedly told Agosto.
Agosto said he took Ortiz up on his offer. He brought his brother, Burgos, along with $400 on Thursday morning, police said.
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Agosto told police he did suspect the items he was getting were stolen, court papers say.
Police said there is more information they will be releasing later Friday.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
