Girdle-Wearing Thieves Concealed Tequila In Bensalem Thefts: PD

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — Two Philadelphia men are in custody after allegedly concealing stolen bottles of tequila in girdles after three retail thefts at a township liquor store last month, police said.

Bensalem Police said the men targeted the Fine Wine & Good Spirits store on 2223 Galloway Rd., hitting up the store on Dec. 27, Dec. 19, and Dec. 10.

Willie Floyd Upson, 44, of Philadelphia, and Barry Ali Bailey, 47, of Philadelphia, were both charged with retail theft and criminal conspiracy.

During a search leading to their arrest, police discovered the girdles that were used as concealment garments to hide the stolen merchandise.

Both were arraigned and sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $50,000 bail for Upson, and 10 percent of $40,000 bail for Baily.

Two others accompanying the suspects were also taken into custody on unrelated outstanding shoplifting warrants, police said.

On Dec. 10 at 5:46 p.m., police officers responded to a reported retail theft involving two suspects who selected multiple bottles of high-end tequila, concealed the merchandise, and fled the store without paying.

Police said the suspects were dropped off and later picked up by a dark green Toyota Tundra with New Jersey registration.

On Dec. 19 at 5:20 p.m., police again responded to the same location for another retail theft in which they determined that the same suspects had returned and stolen additional merchandise using a similar method.

Police found that the same Toyota Tundra was in the Bensalem area immediately before and after the theft.

On Dec. 27 at 6:56 p.m., a store manager recognized the same suspects inside the store and called police.

Police officers located the vehicle parked nearby and safely detained the occupants.

Police also said the suspects were wearing clothing consistent with that seen in surveillance footage from the prior thefts.

Police recovered multiple new bottles of tequila from the vehicle. It was later confirmed that one suspect had stolen three additional bottles of tequila valued at $329.97 during the Dec. 27 incident.

(Bensalem Township Police Department)