Reading man charged with retail theft

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN — A man with nine previous theft convictions allegedly stole a television from Wal-Mart on March 30.
Joaquin Rivera Jr., 47, of Reading, was arrested after he was seen on a surveillance video allegedly taking a 28-inch Emerson LED television from the store at 233 Shoemaker Road, police said.
Around 7:40 p.m., Rivera entered the store and left approximately 20 minutes later with the television in his cart, police said.
The television, according to police, cost $262.
While officers were speaking with the loss prevention officer on April 3, Rivera was seen in the store, police said.
When an officer went to speak with him, he admitted to being in the store several days earlier. But when Rivera was asked about stealing anything, he allegedly told the officer he only took a few shirts.
From 1999 through 2012, Rivera faced theft charges and jail time in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, according to court documents.
In 2008, Rivera was convicted on burglary charges in Berks County, according to court paperwork.
For the March 30 incident, Rivera faces one felony count of retail theft and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property. He is confined to the Montgomery Count Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 bail and is expected to appear in court again on April 17 at 9:45 a.m.