Stealing $20 from his employer cost a 19-year-old Pembroke man $500 in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told the court how Will Simmons, owner of Double W a video rental store, reported his front desk employee to Police for stealing from the till on November 1, 2006.

Police viewed the surveillance video from the store and witnessed Kyle Tavaresk, of Fairyland Lane, Pembroke, take the $20 from a DVD rental customer, put it in his pocket and give the customer $8 from the till.

Tavares was arrested on November 2, 2006, in front of the store and asked Police: “What did I steal?”

He was taken to the Police Station and interviewed.

Tavares is currently serving two suspended sentences, which were imposed on November 23, 2006; one for stealing and the other for wounding.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner asked Tavares if he had anything to say and he replied: “Same day that I took the money my father passed away two days before and I wasn't thinking and I was going through a lot of stress over that grief.”

Mr. Warner gave Tavares until March 2 to pay the $500 fine.