Alleged apologetic Lynn Dunkin’ Donuts thief arraigned

LYNN – A thief who allegedly made a series of dumb moves when he stole money from a Western Avenue Dunkin’ Donuts on Sunday was arraigned Monday in Lynn District Court.David Sargent, 39, of 14 Hood St., Lynn, was arrested and charged with larceny from a building and malicious destruction of property.Police say Sargent stole $30 from a tip jar then walked behind the sales counter and stole a metal cash box, which contained about $90 and a key to a merchandise case, when an employee had her back turned.The employee told police Sargent was a regular customer and had come into the coffee shop four times that day. All of the workers knew him by name and Sargent even gave one worker his telephone number a few hours before the theft, police said.”If you ever want to party, give me a call,” Sargent allegedly said to the employee after writing the number on a napkin.The employee who called police said her back was turned as she assisted a drive-thru customer during the theft. When she turned around, she discovered Sargent standing behind the counter and told him to leave, according to police.In the presence of officers, the employee called Sargent on the phone but he hung up on her. A few minutes later he called back and agreed to return the money, police said. A friend of Sargent arrived at the store a few minutes later with most of the cash, but $28 and the key were missing, police said.Police were on their way to Sargent’s house when suddenly he arrived at Dunkin’ Donuts exclaiming, “I’m sorry!”The day following his arrest, Sargent telephoned The Item requesting his name be omitted from the police log, but the newspaper denied his request.According to a police report, “Sargent apologized to (the victims) for taking the cash box and told us that he was messed up on Klonopins and didn’t know why he had stolen the cash box.”Judge Albert Conlon presided over the arraignment, during which it was learned Sargent was additionally charged with malicious destruction of property for damaging the cash box. Initially, he was only charged with larceny. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered back to court March 19 for a pre-trial hearing.