Robber Throws Gasoline On Lowell Store Clerk
LOWELL (CBS) - Lowell Police are looking for an armed robber who threw gasoline on a store clerk and threatened to light him on fire.
"Definitely a big concern in how this was done," said Captain Tom Kennedy of the Lowell Police Department.
The alleged crime was caught on surveillance video. Sunday evening, Jan. 4th, police say a man entered Jerry's Food Store on Lawrence Street. Video shows him throwing gasoline from a water bottle on the clerk and demanding all the money from the register.
The clerk told officers the man then held up a Zippo lighter and threatened to set him on fire. The man left with as much as $900.
Police said when they arrived at the store there was a strong smell of gas. They told the clerk to change get out of the gasoline soaked clothes to prevent any fire. "[Gas] has a variety of different complications – spontaneous combustion things like that," said Kennedy. "It's something above and beyond an ordinary person."
The store is a family business. The owner is currently in India. The clerk who is in his 20's was not injured and is expected to be back to work later this week.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward in this case.
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