A Bethlehem man is in jail and facing charges after Lower Saucon Township Police say he allegedly left several children under the age of 10 alone in a parked car while he shoplifted nearly $200 worth of groceries from Giant Food Store Saturday afternoon.
In a news release issued Tuesday, police said Donald Niquette, 57, of the first block of W. Garrison Street, left the children ages 7, 8 and 9 in the car while he was inside the store at 1880 Leithsville Road in the early afternoon.
When officers responded to the store for a reported retail theft, police said store management told them Niquette was observed walking out of the store with a cart filled with groceries valued at $195.05 “without ever attempting to purchase the groceries.”
During a search of Niquette, police said they found “a green baggie with white residue…typical of drug packaging” on his person.
Niquette is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, felony retail theft and child endangerment.
Following a preliminary arraignment he was committed to Northampton County Prison on the charges, police said.