A Northumberland County woman is jailed in Berks County after police said she and a couple of accomplices stole more than $2,000 in video game merchandise and other items from the Hamburg-area Walmart in two coordinated shoplifting trips this spring.
Kimberly A. Kastle, 34, of Shamokin was committed to Berks County Jail in lieu of a total of $10,000 bail while awaiting hearings in two retail theft cases filed by Criminal Investigator Frank Cataldi of Tilden Township police.
She faces felony counts of retail theft and conspiracy.
According to court documents:
Around 4 p.m. on May 27, security footage showed Kastle arriving at the Walmart along Route 61 in Tilden in a dark‑colored 2008 Mercedes‑Benz. With her was a man later identified as John W. Derr, 37, also of Shamokin.
The two entered the store separately but met inside. They selected about 15 PlayStation 5 video games priced between $50 and $70 each. They also took a portable air conditioner valued at $300.
The total retail value of the stolen merchandise was $1,081.
Police said Derr removed theft‑prevention devices from the games, which Kastle placed in her purse. The pair then left the store without paying and loaded the items into the vehicle.
A week later, around 2:15 p.m. on June 4, Kastle and Derr returned to the store in the same vehicle, this time accompanied by an unidentified woman.
The three selected about a dozen PlayStation video games, which the unidentified woman placed in a shopping bag and left the store without paying.
Kastle and Derr left together with the larger items, including a Segway E-scooter, without paying. The total value of the theft was estimated at $1,110.
Walmart security reported both thefts to Tilden police on June 15 and provided digital evidence.
Cataldi filed charges against Kastle and Derr on July 13 and requested arrest warrants. Kastle was taken into custody July 17 by Berks County deputy sheriffs. Details of her arrest were unavailable. Derr remained at large as of Tuesday.