7-Eleven Clerk Plays 'Keep Away' With Alleged Robber's Backpack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A quick thinking clerk put a halt to an attempted robbery at a Long Island 7-Eleven early Saturday morning.
According to authorities, Rebecka Diaz approached the counter at a 7-Eleven on Route 112 in Coram just after 5 a.m. with items to be purchased. After the cashier began to ring up Diaz she allegedly displayed a gun and demanded cash.
As the cashier placed money into Diaz's backpack, a male customer entered the store, police said. Diaz then placed the gun into the backpack and turned to look at the customer.
The cashier took the opportunity to grab the bag from Diaz and brought it over the counter. When she leapt over the counter to retrieve the bag, the cashier tossed it to the customer. The customer then threw it back to the cashier as Diaz jumped back over the counter toward him, police said.
Diaz jumped over the counter a third time and struggled with the clerk. When she was unable to retrieve the bag, she jumped the counter and fled the store.
Detectives later charged 19-year-old Diaz, of Coram, with attempted robbery in the first degree and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree.
Authorities said the male customer who helped the clerk left before police arrived and police are attempting to identify him.
Diaz was scheduled to be arraigned Sunday.
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