Upper Moreland Township Police Department Photo by James Short.
Upper Moreland Township Police were able to locate the duo to press felony charges, say police
Two Philadelphia neighbors worked together to remove over $1,000 worth of products from the Willow Grove Walmart in mid-November, police said.
Upper Moreland Township Police were dispatched to the Walmart, located at 2101 Blair Mill Road, in the Willow Grove section of Upper Moreland Township, on Nov. 15 around 2:29 p.m. for the report of a retail theft in progress. According to the police criminal complaint, a man and a woman had reportedly fled the retail store in a black SUV with tinted windows. Police said the vehicle was reported as last being seen on Computer Avenue, traveling north.
Through the investigation, police said that Gerald Francis Farley, 40, of the 3500 block of Welsh Road in Philadelphia, and Amber Rava, 34, of the same address but a different apartment unit, were identified as the two suspects by Upper Moreland Police Department. Store employees said that the two went through self-checkout and paid for only one merchandise item, according to the complaint. The pair had a “full shopping cart of food,” according to police.
According to the complaint, Rava and Farley passed all points of sale and to exit the business when they were stopped by a Walmart Door Greeter. The greeter examined a fraudulent receipt given to him by Rava, but then advised the two that the receipt was not valid, police said.
Police reported that the two then left the shopping cart and ran to the other exit door, while they were overheard saying “we have to get out of here.” Police said the value of items in the cart were valued at $1,003.96 but was recovered by the Walmart.
The Walmart Loss Prevention Officer told police he had last seen the black Ford Escape with Pennsylvania licenses plates was seen leaving the store parking lot, as Farley was driving recklessly from the area, according to the complaint. The vehicle, police said, was owned by Rava.
According to police, Farley was identified as the driver via a check of his driver’s license photo, surveillance, and prior arrests. He has two prior retail theft convictions. Rava was identified in the same manner, police said, and has five prior retail theft convictions.
Farley is charged with a felony count of retail theft and a felony count of conspiracy to commit retail theft. His bail was set on Dec. 8 for an unsecured amount of $5,000. He is schedule for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 28, 2025 at 1 p.m.
Rava is also charged with two felony counts of retail theft by the taking of merchandise and conspiracy to commit retail theft. Her bail was set on Dec. 8 as an unsecured $5,000. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 28, 2025, at 1 p.m.
