Blotter: 1-Man Crime Spree at Marple Walmart Ends in Arrest

SPRINGFIELD–On Jan. 22 at approximately 1:10 p.m., Marple police responded to the Marple Crossroads Walmart for a retail theft suspect in the store.

While en route, police were advised that the suspect was currently fighting with the store security guard. According to the report, a Springfield police car was already in the shopping center and saw the suspect vehicle leaving the parking lot.

The officer followed the vehicle, bearing a New Jersey license plate, and headed south on I-476, according to the report.

While police spoke with the security officer on scene, they were informed that other police units from Ridley Park and Prospect Park saw the vehicle and were attempting to stop it.

According to the report, the vehicle continued on I-95 north to Bartram Avenue then returned south on I-95 onto Rt. 420. Ridley Park and Prospect Park police were eventually able to stop the vehicle by boxing it in on Rt. 420 near 2nd Avenue.

According to the report, the store security officer reported seeing the man in the electronics section of the store and identified him from numerous prior retail thefts.

According to the report, the store officer had observed him remove a Sony surround sound speaker and put it in a cart and leave the area. The store officer called 911 and then headed toward the front doors. When the store officer saw the man walk out of the store without paying for the item, she stopped him outside and asked for his receipts.

According to the report, the man recognized the store officer from an incident the day before and the store officer stated that she was store security and needed to see his receipt.

The man then said he had paid for the item and tried to pull the cart away. According to the report, the man then pulled out a receipt from Walgreens and the store officer stated that a Walmart receipt was needed.

The man then took one hand from the cart and started to push the store officer, according to the report. The store officer then grabbed his arm and both began to wrestle back and forth.

The man was able to break free and started running toward his car. According to the report, a woman he was with walked out of the store and asked what was going on. The man then started yelling, “Let’s go, babe!” The woman then asked where she was going and ran toward the car as well, according to the report.

The store officer was able to check the video footage and saw that the man had come into the Walmart and remove a 40-inch TV prior to returning for the speaker.  On Jan. 21, police responded to Walmart for a theft that involved the same man. According to the report, the man had removed one TV that day just before 11 a.m. and another one on Jan. 17th with a total theft value over $1,000. 

The man was identified as Matthew Colleluori, 33, Wildwood, NJ. Colleluori faces charges of Robbery-Take Property From Other/Force; five counts of Retail Theft; five counts of Receiving Stolen Property; Aggravated Assault; Simple Assault; Recklessly Endangering Another Person; Criminal Mischief/Damaging Property Intent, Reckless, Or Negligent; Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer; and Accident Involving Damage Attended Vehicle/Property.

Magisterial District Judge David Lang set Colleluori's bail at $75,000 with a 10 percent cash option. Colleluori was unable to post bail and remains in Delaware County Prison. A preliminary hearing for Colleluori has been continued to Feb. 7 in District Court #32-1-27.