“Short” On Cash

Alabama Baldwin County Loxley police say a man tried to rob a local convenience store but was too "short" to pull off the heist

by Pat Peterson

Published: Mon, September 22, 2008 - 5:00 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, September 22, 2008 - 5:27 pm CST

The Loxley Police Department says a vertically challenged suspect wanted cash from the clerk working at the Chevron on Highway 59 near County Road 64. But there was a problem: investigators say the man was too short to reach the cash register.

"He wasn't able to reach the cash drawer," says Police Chief Chip Cason. "The whole attempted robbery went South from there."

The short suspect didn't have a gun so he used a candy bar as bait.

"The first thing I did was look at his hands and he didn't have a weapon so I laughed and chuckled at him and told him he wasn't getting anything," says store clerk Ben Guilmain. "I stepped back and was drawer was still open. He was a short, lil' fella, he couldn't reach the money."

Frustrated, the would-be robber left the store without the money and his candy bar.

"He bought and paid for the candy bar," says Guilmain. "But he got mad and left the money and the candy bar on the counter. The police didn't want the candy bar as evidence so I ate his candy bar. It cost him $1.20 to try and rob me. We actually made money off this guy trying to rob us."

The suspect might have gotten away for now...but police say he left his pride at the front counter.

Call the Loxley Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at 251- 964-5029 if you have any information about the attempted robbery.

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