Woman shoplifts 221 items from Giant
She also struggled with loss-prevention officer, tried to bite him, police say
An Ontelaunee Township woman was arrested on charges of shoplifting 221 items, valued at $417, and trying to bite a Giant Food loss prevention officer.
Heather D. Showman, 37, whose address was listed in the first block of Ohlinger Road, was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $60,000 bail after arraignment Thursday night before Senior District Judge Thomas H. Xavios in Reading Central Court.
She faces felony counts of retail theft, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
Spring Township police charged Showman Jan. 25, 2019, according to court records, but they did not have her in custody and were unable to locate her. She was declared a fugitive May 20. According to police: On Jan. 5, 2019, a loss prevention officer at the Spring Meadows Giant, Van Reed and State Hill roads, saw on security cameras a woman carrying a green shopping basket, inside of which was a green reusable Giant grocery bag. She was going up and down the aisles placing items in the bag and a cart.
He followed her around the store and out the front doors after she bypassed the cashiers.
The security man, whose name was not provided, stopped her in the lot, identified himself and told her she needs to return to the store and talk to the on-duty manager. As they approached a front door, she struggled with him, and he pushed her against a wall.
Showman tried to bite his arm through his jacket and was able to break free. She ran to a car with a male driver who had backed up toward her from a parking space, dropping a hat and jacket as she ran.
She got into the car and left the lot in that vehicle, leaving behind the cart and shopping bag filled with items valued at a total of $417.
Store officials called police and were given the license plate number of the car. They also found a Giant bonus card registered to Showman on a key ring in the jacket she left behind.
Authorities said Showman was arrested by state police, but further details were unavailable.