A security guard at the Montgomery Mall is facing charges after she allegedly stole a $5,000 autographed Kobe Bryant jersey from S&B Sports Collectibles then sold it to another collectible store in Chalfont.
Caitlin Fry, 27, of North Wales, has been charged with felony counts of retail theft and receiving stolen property, in connection with the investigation by the Montgomery Township Police Department. She is currently free on $5,000 unsecured bail.
Police were dispatched to the mall Wednesday evening for a report of a theft with an unknown time frame. The owner of S&B Sports Collectibles told police that an autographed Kobe Bryant #8 Los Angeles Lakers jersey had been removed from a display window with the authenticity paperwork left behind, adding that he did not know when the theft had taken place.
The owner told police the jersey had a special certification number that had been added to the jersey to confirm authenticity.
That same evening, the owners of Sports Connection in Chalfont reached out stating they had purchased the jersey from Fry on Tuesday, and a copy of her identification card was taken during the process of the purchase, according to charging documents. Investigators confirmed the sale as the certification number on the jersey matched the authentication paperwork left behind at S&B Sport Collectibles, the report states.
After being identified as a security guard at the Montgomery Mall, police spoke with Fry, who confessed to stealing the jersey on Monday night after the store had closed, the report states. Fry also confessed to selling the jersey for cash, police said.
Fry was arraigned Thursday morning by District Judge John Kessler, who set bail at $5,000 unsecured. Her next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Oct. 11 at 10:45 a.m. in front of District Judge Andrea Duffy.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause. This story was updated to reflect the child's current custody status.
See also:
Chalfont Man Accused of Sexual Communication with 10-Year-Old, Child Porn Possession
Man Who Fled Lansdale After Sexual Assault Accusation Apprehended by US Marshals in California
Man Accused of Assaulting Non-Verbal Patient at Bucks County Behavioral Health Facility
