7-time shoplifter charged again in Walmart incident
BUTLER TWP — A seven-time shoplifter was arrested again, this time for allegedly trying to make a more than $700 fraudulent return of merchandise at a store at Butler Commons shopping plaza.
Butler Township police Wednesday arrested Jonathan A. Lubinsky, 35, of Butler on felony shoplifting and other charges. He is in Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.
Lubinsky was stopped about 11:25 a.m. at Walmart, after he attempted to return merchandise valued at $749.91 that he had not paid for, according to court documents.
He told police that he had paid for the items, but store surveillance revealed otherwise.
Lubinsky was arraigned on a felony charge of retail theft and misdemeanor charges of theft by deception and possession of an instrument of crime.
While normally a summary or misdemeanor offense under state law, retail theft is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property's value when a suspect has at least two prior convictions for the same crime.
Police in charging documents noted that Lubinsky has seven previous shoplifting convictions.
