Bankruptcy overseer accused of theft at Circuit City

A Florida contractor instructed to liquidate a Berwyn electronics store by setting closeout prices allegedly gave himself a much deeper discount.

He stole about $8,000 worth of electronic equipment, police said yesterday.

Frank Joseph Connor 2d, 46, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was charged with multiple counts of theft. He had been hired by Circuit City to oversee the bankruptcy sale at the Swedesford Road store in Tredyffrin Township, police said.

Authorities were contacted after a store manager noticed that five $1,000 laptops had disappeared, said Tredyffrin Township Detective Sgt. John R. Bailey. Investigators eventually found $8,000 worth of computers, cameras, and electronic games in Connor's possession, Bailey said.

Bailey said the merchandise was in Connor's 2004 Corvette, his East Whiteland Township motel room, and an undisclosed location.

"He had a contact within the store," Bailey said. "That's all I can say right now. This investigation isn't over."

Connor, who runs his own company, FJC Corp., was arraigned and was remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $15,000 cash bail, police said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 6, court records show. Anyone with information is asked to call Tredyffrin police at 610-408-3649.