Bensalem police seek man accused of taking rifle from Walmart using forged paperwork

Police in Bensalem Township are looking for a man they accuse of using forged documents to leave a local Walmart with a Winchester .308 rifle on Friday afternoon, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia, CBS Philadelphia and 6abc Action News.

The incident took place at the Walmart on Horizon Boulevard in the Bucks County township. FOX 29 reported that officers responded to the store, located at 3461 Horizon Boulevard, shortly after 2:30 p.m. after receiving a theft call.

Investigators told FOX 29 the man arrived at about 1:40 p.m. He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black jacket and had a folding scooter with him, police said. After entering, he reportedly put on a yellow vest and took a rifle bag from the store's merchandise. 6abc gave the same account of his clothing and the scooter.

According to police statements reported by FOX 29, the man approached a worker in the sporting goods section and showed falsified papers suggesting he had been cleared to obtain the rifle. Both FOX 29 and 6abc reported that security cameras then recorded him walking into a section of the store meant only for staff, placing the gun in the bag and exiting by way of the garden center.

The reported timeline varies between outlets. 6abc said cameras recorded the man inside the store at roughly 2:30 p.m. FOX 29, by contrast, said he walked out a little before 2 p.m., and its account also puts a camera sighting of him crossing the Neshaminy Mall lot at around 1:50 p.m., moving in the direction of a SEPTA stop.

FOX 29 reported that authorities consider the mall lot sighting the final verified moment the man was seen holding the rifle. 6abc similarly reported that he left through the garden area and crossed the mall's lot toward the bus stop.

CBS Philadelphia said police accuse the man of taking the rifle and using fake credentials, though its report offered little further detail.

At the time of the reports, police had neither located nor identified the man. FOX 29 said detectives are pursuing leads and expect to share updates later. Images of the man from store cameras have been made public.

Police ask anyone who recognizes the man or has information about the theft to reach Detective Tom Jackson of the Bensalem Police Department at (215) 633-3667, FOX 29 and 6abc reported.

Compiled by True News from reporting by FOX 29 Philadelphia, CBS Philadelphia and 6abc Action News. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/253