A Philadelphia man is facing multiple charges after police say he stole thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise, including dozens of Philadelphia Phillies jerseys, from Dick’s Sporting Goods locations across the Philadelphia region.
Authorities identified the suspect as 29-year-old Matthew Ramos of Philadelphia. He has been charged with organized retail theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, and other related offenses in connection with a series of thefts that investigators say occurred in May and June 2026.
According to police, the investigation began on May 21, 2026, after officers responded to a reported theft at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store inside the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Investigators said a man wearing a baseball cap, white shirt, and multicolored shorts entered the store and stole 10 pairs of North Face shorts valued at approximately $880. When officers arrived, the suspect had already left the area.
A few days later, police say another major theft occurred at the Dick’s Sporting Goods location at the Franklin Mall, also known as Franklin Mills Mall, in Philadelphia.
On May 25 at approximately 6:37 p.m., authorities said two men entered the store and stole 50 Philadelphia Phillies jerseys with a combined value of $6,549.50. After taking the merchandise, the suspects allegedly fled in a blue Toyota Scion TC.
Philadelphia police later reviewed surveillance footage of the vehicle and shared information with other law enforcement agencies investigating similar thefts.
The following day, May 26, police said a man wearing a blue Phillies jersey, baseball cap, and black pants entered the Dick’s Sporting Goods store located on West Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting.
Investigators said the man stole Nike women’s clothing worth $1,751.96. Police noted that the suspect was wearing one of the Phillies jerseys allegedly stolen from the Franklin Mall location the previous night.
Authorities said the suspect left the store in the same blue Toyota Scion TC connected to the earlier theft.
A Plymouth Township police officer later spotted the vehicle near Germantown Pike and Launfall Road. Police said the officer attempted to stop the vehicle by activating emergency lights and sirens, but the driver refused to stop and continued driving at a high speed. The vehicle was last seen traveling on Interstate 276.
The investigation continued after another alleged theft on May 27 at a Lululemon store in Delaware County. Police said Ramos was identified as a suspect in that incident and that the same blue Toyota Scion was involved.
At the time, investigators said Ramos had outstanding retail theft warrants from Delaware and Bucks counties.
On May 30, shortly after 7 p.m., Philadelphia police spotted the blue Toyota Scion. Ramos and two other men were inside the vehicle, but police released them while continuing the investigation. The vehicle was later towed by authorities.
On June 8, police executed a search warrant on the Toyota Scion and recovered several items that investigators believed were connected to the Dick’s Sporting Goods thefts from May 21 and May 26.
The investigation later uncovered another alleged theft involving Phillies merchandise.
On June 23 at approximately 5:31 p.m., police said two men stole 54 Philadelphia Phillies jerseys from the Franklin Mall Dick’s Sporting Goods location. The stolen jerseys were valued at $7,073.46.
Investigators identified the suspects in that theft as Ramos and 38-year-old Derek Martin of Ambler, Pennsylvania. Police said the two men entered a black Mercedes after the theft, and an unidentified driver drove away from the area.
Several days later, on June 26, police located the Mercedes in the 1200 block of East Sedgely Avenue in Philadelphia.
According to the criminal complaint, Ramos was arrested after he walked away from the vehicle. Police said Martin and another person were inside the car at the time.
Authorities said the total value of merchandise stolen during the series of incidents was approximately $16,254.92.
Ramos was taken into custody and is being held at the Montgomery County Prison after failing to post bail.
Investigators said Ramos has a lengthy criminal history that includes previous charges involving burglary, theft, robbery, aggravated assault, and retail theft. Police also said he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor retail theft earlier in 2026.
Court records did not list an attorney who could comment on Ramos’ behalf.
Police are still searching for Derek Martin, who they say was involved in at least one of the alleged thefts. Investigators said Martin also has an extensive criminal record, including previous cases involving theft, burglary, retail theft, robbery, criminal trespassing, and forgery.
Authorities said Martin has previously been convicted of retail theft three times — once in 2013 and twice in 2023.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue working to identify any additional individuals who may have been involved in the organized retail theft operation.
