Man steals $$ from tip jar to buy beer
Matthew Hart was initially charged with theft of $40 belonging to Bamboushay, but he pleaded not guilty to the offence because he said: “I didn’t steal no money out of Bamboushay.”
I was told to ‘go.’
Prosecutors said the defendant approached the assistant manager and another employee at the restaurant asking for $2, but he was ignored.
Nonetheless, after he left, the employees noticed that a tip jar located at the establishment was empty and decided to review CCTV footage of the area.
The defendant was seen dipping his hand into the tip jar and walking away with some of the cash, which they estimated was about $40. The matter was reported to the police.
Sometime later, police saw him heading towards Bobby’s Supermarket, and during a conversation, the defendant reportedly said: “I only took $2 to buy a Shafer (beer).”
He was then arrested and charged for the offence.
During an interview with police, Prosecutors said the defendant explained that when he asked for the money, he was told ‘go’ and he was unsure of what that meant, whether he should take the $2 from the tip jar or leave the premises.
As a result, he took the cash and thanked them and left to buy his beer, he stated.
Be lenient on me
When the allegations were read in court, Hart begged the court for mercy and asked that he do community service.
“Please do that for me for my Christmas.”
Due to his explanation, the Prosecution amended the complaint to reflect the $2 instead of $40. They also requested that his request to do community service be upheld.
‘Don’t come back here!’
Magistrate Baptiste-DaBreo said to Hart, the law does not condone theft, but she would in this case caution, reprimand and discharge him.
“If you come back, you will not be dealt with as easily as you will be dealt with now. I do not want to see you back here. If you want to do some community service, you are free to do so.”
He replied “I go work by Elton (Bobby’s Supermarket),” before he bolted through the doors of the court.
26 Responses to “Man steals $$ from tip jar to buy beer”
Waste of humanity.
KED TO DO ANYTHING, HOWEVER WHEN YOU REWARD HIM WITH CASH HE JUST CHOOSE TO BUY THE WRONG THING. HE IS A HUMAN BEING AND SHOULD NOT BE TREATED LIKE AN OUTCAST. IM HAPPY THE MAGISTRATE GAVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE. I PRAY ONE DAY HE WILL BE A BETTER PERSON.