BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA – Two Philadelphia men have been arrested in connection with a string of retail thefts at a Fine Wine & Good Spirits store, where investigators say the suspects used concealment garments to hide stolen bottles of high-end tequila.
According to the Bensalem Township Police Department, officers first responded to the store at 2223 Galloway Road on December 10 at 5:46 p.m. after two men concealed several bottles of expensive tequila and fled without paying. Surveillance footage later showed the suspects being dropped off and picked up by a dark green Toyota Tundra with New Jersey registration PXD-35B.
Nine days later, on December 19, police were called back to the same store for another theft. Detectives determined that the same suspects had returned, using identical methods and the same vehicle.
The investigation culminated on December 27 when an alert store manager recognized the men and called police. Officers located the suspect vehicle nearby, detained the occupants, and recovered several unopened bottles of tequila. It was later confirmed that one of the suspects had stolen three additional bottles worth nearly $330 during that visit.
The suspects were identified as 44-year-old Willie Floyd Upson of N. Fairhill Street and 47-year-old Barry Ali Bailey of McMichael Street, both of Philadelphia. Police said both were wearing concealment garments, described as “girdles,” used to hide the stolen liquor.
Upson and Bailey were charged with retail theft and criminal conspiracy. Magisterial District Judge Stacy Wertman set bail at 10% of $50,000 for Upson and 10% of $40,000 for Bailey. Both were remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility. Two other individuals with outstanding shoplifting warrants were also taken into custody at the scene.
Bensalem police credited the arrests to coordinated investigative efforts and the vigilance of store employees who quickly reported suspicious activity.
Two Philadelphia men were arrested after repeatedly stealing bottles of high-end tequila from a Bensalem liquor store using concealment garments.
