An 18-year-old man is facing shoplifting charges after an incident at the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth.

Police responded to the mall around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a report that a man was walking in the mall carrying what appeared to be a firearm on his belt.

Several police officers and a K9 unit arrived on scene and located the man inside the entrance to the Winners – Home Sense store.

Police say the man was found in possession of a small knife in a belt holder. He was also found in possession of stolen property from the store.

Further investigation revealed that no one had witnessed the man carrying a firearm, no one had been threatened and the knife had never been removed from the holder.

The store was closed for a short period of time which officers investigated the incident but the rest of the mall remained open for business.

The suspect is facing charges of theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen goods under $5,000. He is due to appear in Dartmouth provincial court at a later date.