Man admits dishonesty charge

A St. George's man denied stealing plywood valued at almost $600, but admitted to dishonestly receiving it.

Marvin Eugene Lambe, of Pieces of Eight Lane, pleaded not guilty to stealing ten sheets of plywood from SAL Trading Ltd. valued at $598 on June 23, when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The charge was later dismissed. The court heard from Crown counsel Nicole Smith, that the 43-year-old went to the retailer early that morning in a truck and engaged in conversation with an employee in the yard area where the plywood was stored.

Ms. Smith explained the store's policy was for customers to buy the materials inside the store first, take the receipt outside to the employee to verify the payment and then present the receipt again when leaving to the security guard.

The defendant told the employee he was buying ten sheets of plywood and a bag of cement. When he went inside, the employee loaded the plywood into the truck. However, Lambe only paid for the bag of cement.

When he went back outside, he covered the plywood with a tarpaulin and placed the bag of cement on top of it and left the premises.

Lambe showed the security guard the receipt at the exit, which only had the cement on it, and he was let out. After he left, employees realised he had left without paying for the plywood and notified the Police. Lambe was arrested and taken to the Southside Police Station where he admitted to stealing the plywood but said he was assisted by the yard employee.

In court, Lambe told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, he didn't steal the wood, he was picking it up.

"I didn't know it was stolen until after the fact. But I'm willing to pay for it," he explained. Lambe, who is currently in prison, was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Woman's handbag snatched

A 54-year-old woman suffered head injuries after her handbag was snatched while she was walking along Spice Hill Road, in Warwick.

Around 12 p.m. on Thursday, Police responded to the call on Spice Hill Road in Warwick where the victim said an unknown man on a motorcycle rode-up from behind and grabbed her handbag. This knocked her to the ground causing her to hurt her head and she was treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and then released.

The bag contained personal items and the suspect is described as wearing a black helmet and black jacket. Inquiries are underway and Police are appealing for any witnesses. Anyone with information can contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit at 234-1010.

Burglar thwarted

A home owner scared-off a burglar he saw trying to enter his housemate's room.

Police reported to the Rockland Crescent, Warwick home around 11 a.m. on Thursday where the complainant said at 10.30 a.m. he was leaving when he saw a man trying to enter his housemate's room.

He confronted the suspect who then ran away. The suspect is said to be in his 20s, a dark-skinned man about 5ft 10 in tall, slim and wearing a red long-sleeved T-shirt, blue jeans, a dark coloured baseball cap and carrying a dark green backpack.

Also on Thursday Police attended a report of a burglary at an Ord Road, Warwick home where the complainant said between 7.15 a.m. and 12.10 p.m. an unknown culprit entered his home while it was unoccupied.

The person stole an HP laptop computer, a PlayStation Portable (PSP), several PSP games, a Casio digital camera, a Tag Heuer watch and personal items.