An attempted theft at Whole Foods in Wynnewood gave new meaning to "fast food" on Sunday, Jan. 23.

Around 2:20 p.m., store employees said they noticed a man loading meat into his jacket, according to a Lower Merion Police Department report released on Monday, Jan. 24. When the suspect was confronted, he ran out of the back door of the store, located at 339 E. Lancaster Avenue.

Store employees chased the man all the way to the Borders bookstore on 80 E. Wynnewood Road, picking up dropped meat along the way. A female employee finally caught the man outside of the bookstore, and Lower Merion police made the arrest.

James McAleer, 58, of Philadelphia, was arrested for the theft of $221 worth of meat. While processing his arrest, police also discovered he was wanted for a parole violation. The Pennsylvania Department of Probation and Parole issued a detainer for McAleer, who was taken to Mongtomery County Prison.

Oddly enough, the arrest was the third instance of supermarket vigilance in the past month. Lower Merion Police previously reported an attempted theft of $517 worth of goods from Genuardi's on 50 E. Wynnewood Road, which was also thwarted by store employees.

William Brooks, 35, and Jennifer Falcone, 28, allegedly walked into the grocery store on Jan. 4 shortly after noon, loaded a cart full of groceries and tried to leave without paying, according to the police report. Store employees confronted the two suspects, who took off running without the cart. Local police were able to stop both suspected shoplifters and make the arrest.

Whole Foods employees also chipped in to stop another retail theft on Jan. 8, according to the police.

Emy Whiteman, 66, of Havertown, placed several items from the store in reusable shopping bags that she left in her cart, as if they were empty, police said. She then proceeded to attempt to purchase a few items, leaving the majority of her goods hidden in the cart, according to the report.

Whiteman tried to leave without paying for $531.39 worth of groceries and other items, including Susan Boyle CDs, cheese, salad dressing, scarves, gloves, tea and vitamins, police said. Store employees stopped the suspect and called the local police. Whiteman was arrested for retail theft.