Fake NStar Employee Tries To Rob Newbury Street Restaurant

BOSTON (CBS) - A man impersonating an NStar employee was arrested for allegedly attempting to rob a sushi restaurant on Newbury Street Wednesday night.

Barry Shea, 43, was arraigned on charges of armed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Boston Municipal Court Thursday.

He was held on $2,500 bail and ordered to stay out of the Back Bay while his case is pending.

WBZ-TV's Jim Smith reports.

Investigators say Shea entered the Snappy Sushi restaurant wearing an NStar jacket after 6:30 p.m. and told employees he needed to read the gas meter.

Manager Jonathan Rao then led Shea to the meter in the basement. At that point, Shea allegedly pulled a knife and demanded access to the restaurant's safe.

"When I closed the door, he was right behind me with a knife to me, saying, 'Open up your safe, and give me all your money in the safe,'" said Rao.

Rao said he told Shea that the safe was upstairs, and the two then got into a scuffle. Rao ended up with a 16-stich gash in his thumb.

Police said Shea then ran upstairs and attempted to escape, but several restaurant employees held him down until an officer arrived.

NStar said Shea is not a company employee.

Shea is due back in court on December 1.