Man Caught Trying to Steal Soda, Backs Into Car, Police Say

Authorities seek a 58-year-old Philadelphia man who was caught stealing a 20-ounce soda from a Lower Moreland store and backed into an employee's car as he attempted to flee in a hurry, police said.

Richard Tomarchio, of Moredun Place in Philadelphia, is suspected of attempting to steal a $1.95 bottle of diet Coke from the CVS store located on Welsh Road in Lower Moreland Township, police said.

The store manager confronted Tomarchio, took the soda and told him not to return to the store again, police said Tomarchio got into his mother’s red-colored Mercury Sable, backed it out of the handicap parking space where it was parked, drove the wrong way toward the entrance driveway, reversed into a parking spot and backed into the parked vehicle of a CVS employee, police said.

Tomarchio had been arrested in November for retail theft at the Bethayres Market on Welsh Road, according to police, and is serving five years probation for that offense.

Lower Moreland Police Lt. Kevin Dillon told Patch that officers are investigating damage to the vehicle that was struck to determine if it is consistent with Tomarchio hitting it. A warrant for Tomarchio’s arrest is expected to be executed this week, he said, adding that police would prefer that Tomarchio turn himself in.