Facebook Tip Helps Cops Bust Suspected Jewel Thief

Bethlehem Township police say an anonymous Facebook tip led them to the man who allegedly stole $80 worth of jewelry from the Wal-Mart on Nazareth Pike.

Billy R. Inman Jr., 36, of the 700 block of Center Street, Bethlehem, has been charged with a third-grade felony count of retail theft. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $7,500 straight bail.

According to court records, Bethlehem Township police were called to the Wal-Mart on Nazareth Pike (Route 191) on Jan. 15 for a report of a retail theft.

Loss-prevention staff provided video surveillance, which showed a man taking merchandise from the jewelry counter. Bethlehem Township police posted two photos on the department’s Facebook page and asked for the public’s help in identifying the man, court records say.

An anonymous tip through the social media site advised police that the man lived on the 700 block of Center Street. Officer Edward Fox III responded to the provided address and spoke to Inman, who matched the description of the alleged jewelry thief.

Inman admitted to Fox that he committed the theft and was the man in the surveillance footage, court records say.

According to police, Inman has a history of retail thefts:

• April 19, 2010 – charged with larceny for stealing DVDs from a Wal-Mart in North Carolina
• Dec. 7, 2011 – charged with larceny for stealing clothing items from a Kohl’s Department Store in North Carolina