A Pembroke man charged with stealing $5,000 before being chased through the streets of Hamilton has pleaded not guilty.

Junius Carmen Caines, 32, of Middle Town, appeared before Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves yesterday afternoon on the theft charge.

It is alleged that Caines grabbed the money from a cashier at Bermuda Home - the mortgage arm of the Bank of Bermuda - and ran from the building on Wednesday.

An insurance worker - Newton Adcock - then chased the accused thief for three miles through the streets of Hamilton before Police apprehended the man at Bernard Park.

Mr. Adcock, a triathlete and marathon runner, received encouragement and directions from other citizens in his pursuit of the accused thief.

Caines pleaded not guilty after Mr. Greaves read the charge.

Lawyer Larry Mussenden represented Caines in Magistrates' Court.

"My client maintains his Constitutional right to his innocence at this point," said Mr. Mussenden. "We ask for an early court date."

Mr. Greaves set Caines down for mention again in plea court on August 24 before remanding him in custody.

Police on Thursday said they had recovered all the stolen cash.

The money had been stashed at various spots along the thief's escape route.