AUBURN, Mass.- A 51-year-old Worcester man was arrested after police said he stole an $18,000 gold necklace from a jewelry store at Auburn Mall and assaulted an employee while fleeing.
The incident happened Monday, Sept. 14, at about 3:23 p.m. at the mall, located at 385 Southbridge Street. A jewelry store employee called 911 and reported that a man had stolen the necklace and elbowed a female employee in the face as he fled.
The store manager chased the man and saw him get into a yellow taxi. The manager provided police with part of the taxi’s license plate number.
Police and Auburn Fire Rescue responded to the mall while other officers searched for the taxi. The employee suffered minor injuries.
About five minutes later, Sergeant Spiros Kaperonis found the taxi on Auburn Street near Highland Street. Police stopped the vehicle and arrested the passenger without incident. The stolen necklace was found, police said.
The man was identified as Todd McCabe, 51, of Worcester.
Police said detectives determined that the taxi driver did not know about the theft and was not involved. The driver became concerned after seeing the store manager chase McCabe from the mall. When the driver asked McCabe about what had happened, McCabe claimed to have a firearm, police said. The driver then continued driving.
McCabe was charged with unarmed robbery, assault and battery, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
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