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Police probe link of auto theft to recent smash-and-grabs

Four Philadelphia men have been charged with the theft Sunday of $5,300 in Ralph Lauren Polo jackets from a Macy's store in Moorestown, N.J., police said Thursday.

Four Philadelphia men have been charged with the theft Sunday of $5,300 in Ralph Lauren Polo jackets from a Macy's store in Moorestown, N.J., police said Thursday.

Philadelphia police arrested Louis Mathis, 46; Hasan Knight, 30; Jermaine Ricky Johnson, 39; and Marquis Taylor, 29, on Tuesday night in Strawberry Mansion. All four reportedly were being looked at in connection with recent high-profile thefts in the region, including last month's smash-and-grab robberies of the Boyds store in Center City and the Macy's in Northeast Philadelphia.

On Sunday night, three men walked into the Macy's in Moorestown, grabbed several Polo jackets, and fled in a dark-colored SUV. About a half-hour later, the same men entered the Macy's in Center City and walked to the Polo display, but left after being spotted by store security.

They returned 20 minutes later, but left when they were again spotted by security. They were seen leaving in a black 2011 Infiniti QX56, police said.

They returned Monday night, police said, cased the polo display, then left in the same Infiniti.

Investigators learned that the QX56 had been stolen from a dealership in Willow Grove along with another Infiniti. The four suspect were arrested after police located the QX56 in Strawberry Mansion on Tuesday. Philadelphia police charged the four with receiving stolen property. That's in addition the charges they face in Moorestown.

bmoran@phillynews.com

215-854-5983

@RobertMoran215