ST. THOMAS — A man accused of stealing a set of keys from Bushwackers Gaming Center at Crown Bay Shopping Center was arrested several days later after employees reportedly spotted him back at the establishment and called police.
According to police, the theft occurred on the evening of September 13, when a man approached the cashier window, reached inside, removed a bunch of keys and walked out of the gaming center. Officers were summoned to Bushwackers the following afternoon after receiving a report of grand larceny.
Employees told police they had seen the man at the business before but did not know his name. Among the stolen items were keys used to open the cash pans of gaming machines as well as keys belonging to a supervisor. Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the establishment, which police said corroborated the employees’ account.
The following day, staff provided investigators with a partial identification, telling police that the man was known as “Gus” and worked on the beach near the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Employees also estimated that replacing the stolen keys, changing locks and replacing other necessary components on the gaming machines would cost at least $1,850, excluding labor.
On Sunday, September 20, Bushwackers employees contacted police again after “Gus” reportedly returned to the gaming center. Officers responded and were directed to a man who was ultimately identified as Augustus Titre.
Titre offered a different account of what had occurred. He told officers that he had found the keys and, believing they belonged to a hotel guest, turned them over to his supervisor at the Ritz-Carlton. Police contacted the supervisor, who confirmed that Mr. Titre had recently given him a set of keys and said he believed they remained in his office.
Despite that explanation, Mr. Titre was arrested and charged with grand larceny. Unable to satisfy the initial $20,000 bail requirement, he was remanded into custody pending his first court appearance, which was scheduled for Monday before Magistrate Julie Smith Todman.
As of press time, the public court docket did not indicate whether Mr. Titre’s advice-of-rights hearing had taken place or whether he remained in custody awaiting further proceedings.
