Beaver County suspects charged in Cranberry shoplifting case
CRANBERRY TWP — Two repeat shoplifters were arrested recently after police say they swiped $328 in merchandise from the Walmart on Route 19.
The defendants — Joshua A. Butler, 29, and Jennifer J. Minnitte, 38, both of Aliquippa, Beaver County — managed to flee the store with the items in a getaway vehicle but they were stopped.
Both were arraigned on felony charges of retail theft and receiving stolen property, and placed in Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail each.
Cranberry Township police said they were called about 3 p.m. after the suspected shoplifters, subsequently identified as Butler and Minnitte, were seen leaving the store with a shopping cart full of merchandise.
They allegedly packed the items in a sport utility vehicle and drove away, according to court documents. But the pair didn't get far.Officers spotted the vehicle on Freedom Road and stopped them with the store's goods, which were recovered.In Pennsylvania, retail theft is normally a summary or misdemeanor offense. The charge is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property's value when a suspect has at least two prior convictions for the same crime.Court records show that Butler and Minnitte each have three prior convictions for shoplifting.
