Joe Malafarina (Credit: Warrington Township Police)
A Lancaster County man with five active warrants from other jurisdictions has been charged with felony retail theft and receiving stolen property this month by Warrington Township Police for stealing a Roomba, car seat and baby stroller from two Target stores.
Joe Malafarina, 38, of the 200 block of Wild Cherry Lane, Marietta, PA, was sent to Bucks Count jail in lieu of 10% of $10,000 cash bail, per court records.
On Sept. 27, at 1 p.m., police were called by Target loss prevention at 401 Easton Road about a retail theft in progress, according to the affidavit, involving a man wearing a camo hat and black shirt who shoplifted a Roomba J5+, valued at $448.
Police allege Malafarina placed a $4.44 bar code over the Roomba bar code at self-checkout, resulting in a $445.55 loss for Target.
Police said the suspect fled in a red 2022 Mazda CX3 sedan, northbound on Easton Road, and was found at the red light at Street Road.
The driver, identified as Malafarina, was wearing a camo hat and black shirt, police said.
In plain sight, police found three large boxes of merchandise: A Roomba J5+, a BOB Gear baby stroller, and an Evenflo baby car seat, per the affidavit.
Loss prevention was brought to the traffic stop on Easton Road and identified Malafarina as the thief, police said.
The baby stroller and car seat, police said, were stolen from the Montgomeryville Target. All three items were returned to their respective stores, police said.
A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Stacy Wertman.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
