Nashua Man Faces Felony Theft Charge at Sears

A video game system and drill bits made for an odd grouping of alleged stolen items but the combination landed a Nashua man in jail a few weeks ago.

Brian John Hardwick, 24, was arrested at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 1, at the Sears on Loudon Road and charged with a felony theft charge.

According to a Concord Police arrest report, an officer was sent to the store to investigate a report of a shoplifter in custody. A loss prevention employee at the store allegedly watched Hardwick select several small items, including a set of drill bits and a Nintendo DS, from shelves in the store and remove them from their packages.

The loss prevention employee told an officer that he went to the area where Hardwick was standing and reportedly found the empty package of drill bits. The employee stated that he couldn’t locate the Nintendo DS.

Hardwick then left Sears via the mall allegedly without paying for anything.

The employee met up with Hardwick in the mall and requested that he return to the store. Hardwick declined.

The employee then grabbed onto his arm and Hardwick allegedly pulled his arm away and tried to get away. Another employee at the scene assisted and all three fell onto the mall floor, with Hardwick reportedly hitting his head on the ground.

Hardwick was eventually cuffed and escorted back to the store.

The employee alleged that Hardwick was in possession of the Nintendo DS, valued at $99. The $6 drill bits though were never located, according to the report, and were presumed to have been lost during the struggle on the mall floor.

Concord Fire and Rescue teams were called to the scene for the laceration on Hardwick’s head but they did not transport him to the hospital.

Based on the information from the loss prevention employee, Hardwick was arrested, charged, and held on $5,000 cash bail.

Previously, in June 2011, according to the Gilford Steamer, Hardwick, who was living in Center Harbor at the time, was arrested in Gilford and charged with receiving stolen property.

In March 2010, Hardwick was arrested by Nashua Police on a theft by deception, consolidation, charge, a felony, according to the police website. Investigators allege that that month, Hardwick, who had no known address at the time, had forged and cashed more than $1,590 in fraudulent checks from a Nashua resident.

Also, in January 2010, according to the Nashua Telegraph, Hardwick was arrested for driving after revocation or suspension, and disobeying an officer in Nashua.