FORT WALTON BEACH - A man is accused of walking into a business to fetch paperwork, noticing the safe was open, and helping himself to over $20,000.
The incident took place at a Beal Parkway business on Nov. 16. The man, 24-year-old Matthew Vincent Giardine of Mary Esther, entered the business and told an employee he needed to get some paperwork from the victim's desk.
On the way to the victim's office, Giardine noticed the safe in the hallway was open, reached in and took the money, lawmen say. Video surveillance confirmed the theft.
When Fort Walton Beach Police officers arrived and reviewed the video, they had the victim call Giardine and ask him to return to the business with his father. A police officer noticed Giardine was wearing the same clothes as the thief in the video and positively ID'd him from the video.
The victim's father watched the video and confirmed it was Giardine.
When Giardine was searched, lawmen found a razor blade in his wallet and a burned piece of metal mesh in his pocket, both testing positive for cocaine. Giardine admitted he smokes cocaine.
He was charged with grand theft - over $20,000, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and faces a Dec. 18 court date.