A Schuylkill County man is facing a retail theft charge, accused of repeatedly altering the price tags on special orders of fried chicken to get them at a discount.
State Police say they were called to the Redner’s Warehouse Market in North Manheim Township on Jan. 31 for a report of retail theft. At the scene, store management informed police that one customer had been placing special orders for fried chicken between Dec. 29 and Jan. 27.
Each time, the man – later identified as Richard Landmesser, 45, of Schuylkill Haven – allegedly would place price tags for less expensive items in the store on his special orders of fried chicken. He’d then ring out the chicken and leave the store. Management reportedly told police that this happened multiple times and it’s believed Landmesser paid $325.17 less for the chicken than he should have.
Police say Redner’s was able to provide them with surveillance footage of Landmesser pulling off the fried chicken price scheme and in each incident, he wore a New York Yankees flat-brimmed hat and dark clothing.
This scheme was stopped on Feb. 1, police say, after Landmesser made his latest special order for fried chicken. Troopers were notified that a “John L.” had placed an order for chicken and came to pick it up. It was allegedly Landmesser and he was wearing the same Yankees cap. As he left the store, police say they were there and notified him that the chicken he was carrying had an altered price tag on it.
When questioned, Landmesser allegedly admitted to altering the price on previous orders of fried chicken from Redner’s. He’s now facing a misdemeanor retail theft charge.
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