VERO BEACH – Police arrested a 74-year-old man for grand theft after he apparently stole money a customer left behind at the Maryland Fried Chicken Restaurant on 21st. Street earlier this month.
The victim picked up an order at the restaurant and left her wallet behind on the counter, police said.
After she left, another customer walked over to the wallet and put it in his pocket without notifying the restaurant management or making any attempt to stop the woman before she drove out of the parking lot, police said. The man then picked up his order and walked out of the restaurant with the wallet.
This theft was recorded on the security video cameras inside the restaurant.
Police said the suspect was an older, heavy-set white man with short dark hair who wore eyeglasses. He was wearing dark color shorts, sandals, and a peach or orange polo shirt.
On Sept. 12, Detective Jim Kelly received a telephone call from someone who saw the image of the suspect on the internet news and thought the man lived at 2420 19th Street. Further investigation revealed that Henry Tearah McCain, 74, lived there.
Surveillance images were compared to McCain’s Florida driver’s license and they appeared similar, police said.
Kelly called McCain and the suspect admitted during their conversation he found a bank deposit bag at the restaurant and he still had the cash. He said he no longer had the checks or deposit slip.
McCain agreed meet with Kelly at the Vero Beach Police Department on Friday.
At 2:30 p.m., a man entered the Vero Beach Police Department lobby and left a wallet with the receptionist. He then walked away.
Kelly called McCain again and the suspect confirmed left the wallet and money at the police department. He also told Kelly he hired a lawyer.
Kelly obtained an arrest warrant for McCain, charging him with third-degree grand theft. Bond was set at $5000. Police arrested McCain at his home and took him to the Indian River County jail.
On Monday, the woman picked up her money from police.