CRANBERRY TWP — An incident at the Giant Eagle grocery store Monday that was reported as a robbery was in actuality an employee-coordinated theft, police officials announced.

“It really was not a robbery,” said township police Sgt. Chuck Mascellino. “It was determined that it was a theft involving a store employee.”

Mascellino said police were called to the Giant Eagle on Route 19 about 2:45 p.m. Monday in response to an alleged robbery. An employee in the store’s hot food area who was working at the cash register told authorities that a man demanded cash and had a firearm.

According to Mascellino, the cashier provided police with a description of the suspect and the getaway vehicle.

Police officials reviewed store surveillance video of the incident and noticed that the suspect had been lingering in the store before as well as after the incident occurred.

After a photograph of the suspect was released, police received numerous tips and potential names of the man. Mascellino said that police re-interviewed the cashier who reported the incident as well as several suspects and it was determined that three suspects, including the store employee, had reportedly devised a plan to steal money from the register and then falsely report it as a robbery.

“Everybody’s been cooperative,” Mascellino said. “We did follow up, and we did find out that the cashier was involved.”

Mascellino added that the cashier reportedly admitted his role in the incident to police investigators.

Charges of suspicion of theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and false reports to law enforcement officials will be filed against the three unnamed suspects.

The false claim of a robbery led to negative publicity for both the township and the grocery store, Mascellino said.

“Cranberry Township, in general, is a safe area,” Mascellino added. “It was reported as a robbery; it wasn’t. (Giant Eagle) is a safe location.”