BELFAST — A Searsport man was charged with burglary and theft Oct. 30, after he was seen on video allegedly stealing a local restaurant’s petty cash box earlier that month.

Bret M. Rowland, 30, is a former employee of Nautilus, a downtown waterfront restaurant, though his employment was terminated prior to the theft, according to Detective Gerald Lincoln, of the Belfast Police Department.

Nautilus contacted law enforcement after noticing the missing cash box Oct. 13, and reviewing restaurant’s security footage.

Rowland reportedly walked into the restaurant unnoticed around 4:30 p.m., absconding with the cash box and the $400 it held a short time later.

The restaurant’s petty cash box is kept in a place that only someone familiar with the facility would know about, according to Lincoln.

Though it took Belfast Police some time to catch up to Rowland, he reportedly admitted to the theft when interviewed.

He is expected to appear in court Dec. 8.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com