Woman charged with stealing merchandise from Nordstrom at KOP

UPPER MERION TWP., Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Police say a 70-year-old woman's hip was broken after she was knocked down by a shoplifter at the Nordstrom store in the King of Prussia Mall.

Officers responded to Nordstrom on N. Gulph Road for a theft in progress at about 3:45 p.m. on January 17, according to Upper Merion Township police.

Store loss prevention agents said they saw a woman, who has been identified as Deshena Williams, 37, picking up clothes and putting them into a pile. She then allegedly collected the pile and passed by several registers without trying to pay for the items.

Police said when a loss prevention agent tried to stop her, she went running and ran into a 70-year-old woman who was attempting to enter the store.

The 70-year-old woman suffered a broken hip, elbow injury and cuts from the incident. She was taken to Paoli Hospital for treatment.

Williams was taken into custody and was allegedly found with about $2,600 worth of merchandise. She was also in possession of pills and other substances for which she had no valid prescription, police said.

Williams was charged with robbery, simple assault, receiving stolen property and other related crimes.

The theft at Nordstrom is just the latest instance of theft and robbery in the area.

In November, Upper Merion Township Police say a man and woman robbed the Macy's store and the man pulled a gun on loss prevention officers.

In October, police say a man stole a $43,000 watch from the Breitling store and in August, police released footage of suspects accused of stealing $10,000 in merchandise from the Apple Store.

"We do have retail thefts of merchants at the mall, this one is a little more unique because an elderly woman who was there every day to shop ended up being injured," said Lt. Brandy Faherty, of Upper Merion Township Police.

Jonathan Franklin works in private security and says he's seen similar situations.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time they just kind of give it up, then there are other times where they kind of want to struggle with you. You do have some cases where some people will run off and try to like fight you," said Franklin.