PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Philadelphia police are searching for a man they say has stolen thousands of dollars’ worth of Newport cigarettes from convenience stores across the region.
Investigators have nicknamed him the “Newport Bandit.”
Police say the suspect has targeted about 50 convenience stores, repeatedly taking cartons of Newport cigarettes. Authorities believe the suspect is 31-year-old Jarrell Haywood Porter.
“Our investigation started in the latter part of 2024. When we started seeing this individual, Jarrell Porter, stealing cartons of cigarettes from Wawa and other convenience stores,” said Philadelphia Police Department Inspector Ray Evers.
Police say Porter has hit dozens of Wawas and other stores in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, typically taking a couple of cartons at a time.
A carton of cigarettes is worth “about 200 bucks,” Evers said. Prices range based on taxes in local areas.
The estimated total value of the thefts is between $17,000 and $18,000.
Surveillance video shows the suspect approaching the counter as if he intends to pay before grabbing the cartons and walking out.
In some incidents, police say Porter has become more brazen.
“He gets more aggressive when he goes behind the counter. It’s more scary for the store employee,” said Evers.
Investigators believe the suspect is acting alone. They say he began stealing in 2024 and has spread out his crimes, hitting about 30 stores in the city and 20 in the suburbs.
“Delaware, Chester, Bucks, Montgomery counties. He was committing retail theft there also,” said Evers.
Police credit Philadelphia’s Retail Theft Initiative with identifying the pattern. The program has led to an 11% decrease in retail theft over the past year and 2,200 additional arrests over the past five years.
Investigators hope the Newport Bandit will be among those arrested soon.
“A lot of times he’s getting more brazen, so we want to get him off the street,” Evers said.
Police believe the suspect is likely selling the stolen cigarettes.
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators. Anonymous tips are accepted via the Philadelphia Police Tipline at 215-686-TIPS.
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