Cameron Highlanders uniform recovered after antique-store theft

An antiquemilitary uniform leapt back into action by helping nab a man suspected of a slew of crimes in Nova Scotia this week.

"I think it's really cool because the uniform is not doing battle on a battlefield, but it helped to capture a crook. And I think that's greatthat uniform is still working," said Wayne Cameron, owner of Cameron'sFine Art and Antiques in Chester.

The Cameron Highlandersuniformis likely fromthe 1890s or 1900, Cameron says, but it sat as a display in his shops for 30 years. He liked it for the family connection, but never thought somebody would steal it. It wasn't even for sale.

Cameron spotted shifty visitors to his shop recently that set him on alert.

Still,he was unable to prevent the break-in on April 29.

The robber or robberstook gold and silver pieces, along with Inuit carvings, but the Cameron Highlanders military uniformthat shares his family name is the most sentimental to himand it'svalued at more than$2,500.

The military garb is not only old, it's very distinct. The regimental attire consists of a red tunic, a tall headdress made of black and white ostrich feathers, and a sword. The dress uniform bears the Cameron Highlanders insignia of a lion reaching up to fight. A single strand of the feather was the only remnant left behind after the theft.

Cameron thought the memorabilia was long gone, never to be seen again."It's amazing when you have something taken that is special to you, you do feel violated," he said. "I felt sad, disappointed. I thought it was gone for ever."

ButRCMPforensic officers collectedfingerprints and a DNA sample at the crime scene. One of the RCMP members helped take down Mark Tillmantwo years ago. Cameron provided assistance to police in that case.

The antiques community put the word out to pawn shops around Halifax to be on the lookout.

Suspect tackled in pawn shop

On Tuesday, the uniform marched into a Dartmouth pawn shop in the possession of a man the shop owner recognized.

Ed Corbett, owner of Capital Pawn, also recognized the uniform and paid $450 for it. He knewabout the missing Cameron Highlanders uniform and got suspicious.

The person who sold it to him returned the next day to try and sell more loot an even older flint-lock pistol, also from Cameron's store. AnRCMP officer had stayed in the area. Heentered the pawn shopand confronted the man.

The man did not go gently, Corbett says.The RCMP officer and the pawn broker tackled the man and eventually subdued him.Corbett anda customer were shot at during a robbery at Christmastime in 2005, so he was aware of what could go wrong.

The man faces 31 charges including 29 new alleged offences relating to the stolen uniform and other items. RCMP suspect the man, of no fixed address, of a range of crimes across Atlantic Canada.

Police say the man tried to escape custody, but failed. He's due back in court on May 19.

"I'm glad to find out that he's behind bars, that he's not going to be a risk to me or my friends anymore.It's not a good thing, it's not a good feeling, it certainly scars you for life once you've looked down the barrel of a gun or knife," Corbettsaid, referringto the 2005 robbery.

The uniformwill be prominently featured in Cameron's storeonce it's returned."It deserves to be displayed. It's done a good job helping tocatch this fellow," he said.