Footprints in Snow Help Police Find Accused Shoplifters

Two Easton women trying to flee from law enforcement after they were allegedly caught shoplifting at a Walmart were betrayed by their own footprints in the snow on Tuesday, according to court papers.

Nakeisha Marie Blake, 23, of 415 N. 13th St., and Rose-Rita Sophia Anna Bailey, 27, of 24 N. 13th St., were found trying to hide behind an air conditioning unit at the Diner 248 after they ran away from security at the Walmart in Lower Nazareth Township, Colonial Regional Police said.

Matthew Beam, a security officer at the Walmart, told police that he confronted Bailey and Blake in the store’s foyer after he saw them “selecting and concealing” a number of items in the store in two shopping carts, according to the arrest affidavits.

Blake’s cart had $987.73 in merchandise and Bailey’s had $866.49, police said.

The women ran across the store’s parking lot and east into a field and behind Diner 248, police said.

With fresh snow on the ground, police tracked the only human footprints in the area to the back of the diner where Bailey and Blake were found crouched behind an air conditioning unit, the affidavit said.

Both women were charged with shoplifting and criminal conspiracy and arraigned before on-duty District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro. They were both released on their own recognizance.