A Philadelphia man faces felony charges after police linked him to an organized retail theft ring that hit the Dick's Sporting Goods on West Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting, stealing more than $16,000 in merchandise from area stores over five weeks.
Matthew Ramos, 29, is charged with organized retail theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and related offenses, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. He is being held in Montgomery County Prison after failing to post bail.
The Plymouth Meeting theft
On Tuesday, May 26, at 3:53 p.m., a man wearing a blue Phillies jersey, baseball cap and black pants stole $1,751.96 in Nike women's apparel from the Dick's Sporting Goods at 500 West Germantown Pike, police said. The Phillies jersey he wore had been stolen from another Dick's location the night before.
A Plymouth Township police officer spotted the suspect's blue Toyota Scion near Germantown Pike and Launfall Road and activated emergency lights. The driver refused to stop and fled at high speed, according to police. The vehicle was last seen on I-276.
A string of thefts
The investigation began Thursday, May 21, when Upper Merion Police responded to the Dick's Sporting Goods at the King of Prussia Mall for a theft in progress. A man stole ten pairs of North Face shorts worth $880.
On Monday, May 25, two men stole 50 Phillies jerseys worth $6,549.50 from the Dick's at the Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia. They fled in the same blue Toyota Scion.
Nearly a month later, on Tuesday, June 23, two men later identified as Ramos and 38-year-old Derek Martin of Ambler stole 54 Phillies jerseys worth $7,073.46 from the same Franklin Mills store. This time, they left in a black Mercedes.
Arrest and charges
Philadelphia police spotted the Mercedes on Friday, June 26, at 7:15 p.m. along the 1200 block of East Sedgely Avenue. Ramos was arrested as he walked away from the vehicle.
In total, Ramos and his accomplices stole $16,254.92 in merchandise, according to police. Under Pennsylvania law, organized retail theft escalates to more serious felony levels as dollar thresholds are crossed.
Investigators said Ramos has an extensive criminal history including charges of burglary, robbery, aggravated assault and retail theft. He pleaded guilty in January 2026 to misdemeanor retail theft.
Martin remains wanted. He has three prior retail theft convictions, once in 2013 and twice in 2023. Online court records do not list an attorney for Ramos.
Anyone with information about the thefts or the whereabouts of Derek Martin can contact Philadelphia police or Montgomery County detectives. Tips can also be reported to Plymouth Township police at 610-233-0585.
