ANTIGONISH: Antigonish County District RCMP has charged a man with theft after an incident at Needs Convenience on James Street in Antigonish.
According to information provided by the RCMP, on May 17, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Antigonish County District RCMP responded to a report of a theft that had just occurred at a convenience store on James Street in Antigonish.
RCMP officers learned that a man had entered the convenience store, told the clerk that he wanted the cash in the cash register, which the clerk provided, before fleeing on foot.
“The incident was not a robbery,” Public Information Officer Cpl. Chris Marshall told The Reporter. “Which I realize is the rumour going around town in Antigonish.”
During the incident, no one was injured, violence was not threatened, nor was there a weapon involved.
As investigators continued with their investigation, they learned that the same suspect had attempted to break-in to an ATM at the Credit Union on the corner of Main Street and College Street prior to attending the convenience store.
While the ATM was damaged, it was not successfully broken into.
A description of the suspect was provided to investigators, and approximately 10 hours later at 3:15 p.m., the suspect was located by police and safely taken into custody, where he was transported to the Antigonish detachment where he was held in cells overnight.
“The man was known to police,” Cpl. Marshall said. “He was arrested on the street near Cairn Park.”
Thirty-one-year-old Jed Douglas DeCoste, of Tracadie, has been charged with mischief over $5,000, theft under $5,000 and failure to comply with conditions of a release order.
“Robbery is basically theft with violence, or a threat of violence. In this case there was no violent act, nor was there a threat of violence so investigators could not lay robbery charges,” Cpl. Marshall said. “Theft was the only charge that was applicable.”
Information provided by the Public Prosecution Services advised DeCoste was in Antigonish Provincial Court on May 20 for a bail hearing on the three charges noted and was also scheduled to be arraigned on an additional charge for robbery with the same offence date as the other three.