A reported armed robbery at a Lancaster County outlet store turned out to be a fabrication, according to East Lampeter Township Police.<\/p>\n
Caleb Steele, 24, was charged after investigators determined he staged a robbery at the Pepperidge Farm Outlet Store at The Shoppes at Rockvale, police announced on Monday, June 8.<\/p>\n
Officers responded to the store at 35 S. Willowdale Dr. at 8:42 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, after Steele, the store’s assistant manager, reported he had just been robbed.<\/p>\n
Steele told police he had closed the store and was leaving when a man approached him, pressed a hard object into his back, and forced him back inside, according to the release.<\/p>\n
The alleged robber then ordered Steele to open the store safe, took cash, and fled through a rear door, police said.<\/p>\n
During the investigation, detectives determined the incident never happened and that Steele had fabricated the robbery report, according to authorities.<\/p>\n
Police said Steele and a co-defendant were charged in connection with the theft.<\/p>\n
Steele was charged with:<\/p>\n
Theft By Unlawful Taking.Criminal Use Of Communication Facility.False Reports.<\/p>\n
The charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge B. Denise Commins on Friday, May 1, according to police.<\/p>\n