Alleged Tip Jar Thief Simplifies Matters for Police

A Darien man was arrested Saturday after stealing the tip jar from Michael Joseph's Catering while he ostensibly applied for a job there, according to police.

Zachary Hession, 20, of Old Kings Highway South was charged with sixth degree larceny following the incident.

Around 11:30 a.m., the catering service contacted police to report that its tip jar had gone missing after a man—later identified as Hession—came into the store around 9:45 that morning.

According to an employee account, Hession had entered the store, ordered a sandwich, and left his contact information—including his proper name and phone number—in order to apply for a job with the caterer.

A quick review of surveillance footage showed Hession pocketing a few bills from the plastic jar at first while the employee wasn't looking, but eventually he could be seen picking up the entire item and maneuvering it into the back of his waistband in order to hide it. Hession then appeared to pay for the sandwich he had ordered with money taken from the jar.

After run a check of the contact information Hession had provided to the store, police went to the Old Kings Highway address listed to his name. There, they found Hession's brother, who said the subject was out at the moment due to his family's ongoing move. 

Soon a U-Haul truck arrived bearing a passenger that closely resembled the man from the surveillance tape. After establishing that he was indeed Zachary Hession, police asked if he had taken the jar. When he admitted he had, he was placed under arrest.

Hession was released on $250 bond and is set to appear in court Sept. 21. He also gave the remaining $34.50 taken from the jar to police, who returned it to the caterer. The exact amount of money taken was not known.