Police: Man accused of theft sought help fleeing

PORTAGE, Ind. — Northwestern Indiana police say a man accused of stealing a television from a Walmart store asked a store manager to help him flee the scene after his car stalled outside the store’s front doors.

The Times of Munster reports 43-year-old Joseph Chase of Portage was arrested Wednesday on theft, false reporting and other charges. His 41-year-old girlfriend, Michelle Baugh, also faces theft charges in the incident.

Police say after Chase pushed a cart from the building loaded with a large television without paying for it, a manager asked for his receipt.

Chase, who was sitting in his stalled car, allegedly moved the TV from the car’s trunk to the shopping cart and asked the manager to “give him a hand getting his vehicle started” so he could leave.