Thomas St Rose, a Survival Supermarket guard, was yesterday charged with stealing money from a shopper’s basket, an act which Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton heard was recorded by a surveillance camera.
St Rose, 30, of 51 Hadfield Street, Georgetown, initially pleaded guilty with an explanation, but later changed his plea when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a simple larceny charge.
It is alleged that on July 20, at Survival Supermarket, he stole the sum of $30,000 from Mahendra Singh.
According to Police Corporal Venetta Pindar, on the day in question, about 11.21 am, Singh went into the supermarket to purchase foil paper. Singh, Pindar explained, had placed $30,000 in the shopping basket when he received a telephone call and dropped the basket containing the money. He then went outside and upon returning, discovered the money missing.
Singh left and made his way to the Kitty Police Station, where he made a report. He was accompanied back to the supermarket by the police and they viewed the security camera footage, which showed St Rose picking up the money from the basket. St Rose, when called, handed over the money, which is now lodged at the police station. He was arrested and charged with the offence.
When given a chance to speak, St Rose told the court that the money was in a sealed envelope and had nothing written on it.
Further, he stated that he never opened the package. He stated that after picking up the envelope, he stored it in a security locker, with the intention of later handing it over to his supervisor. The man said he initially plead guilty since it was indeed a fact that he picked up the package, but he explained that he was not stealing.
St Rose was granted bail in the sum of $20,000 and will reappear in Court 1 on October 11 for a report.
