It was poetic justice last week when a uniformed police officer entered a Southern California 7-Eleven and stood in front of the store's cash register with a bag full of cash stolen by a hooded armed robber. The moment was captured on a security camera.
Let's say the scammer doesn't accomplish what he set out to do.
What are the details?
Video recorded the suspect — 48-year-old Ramon Gonzalez — approaching the counter of a West Covina store Wednesday and asking the clerk to bring him a pack of cigarettes. KTLA TV reported.
As the clerk began putting cigarettes into the bag, the suspect lifted his sweatshirt, revealed a gun and demanded everything from the register, police said.
The clerk complied and began putting cash into the bag, according to KTLA.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
The crooks may have gotten away with a simple robbery, but just as everything was going down, a security camera caught Sergeant West Covina. Police said Abel Hernandez, a regular customer at the 7-Eleven, entered the store to buy water and greeted the clerk.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
“So I realized there was a subject matter there, and at first I didn't really think anything of it,” Hernandez told KTLA. “I saw the gloves, I saw the ski mask, and it was a little cold that night, so I thought, 'Okay.'
Image source: YouTube screenshot
But at that moment, Hernandez also noticed the store employee's distressed expression, the station said.
“He's always smiling, but when I walked into the store I saw this look of fear on his face and I knew something was going on,” Hernandez added to KTLA. “I remember he just had his eyes on the subject.”
The robber immediately picked up a bag of cash (approximately $400) from the counter, spotted Hernandez entering and ran toward the door, police said.
The clerk yelled, “He's got a gun!” He stole me! ” According to KTLA, when Hernandez turned around and chased the suspect,
Image source: YouTube screenshot
“It looked slow to me when I watched the video, and it looked like it left pretty quickly,” the 17-year veteran officer added to the police department. “Everything slows down. I was able to catch him right outside the store door, 15 to 20 feet away.”
According to KTLA, Hernandez tackled the suspect, who briefly struggled but then gave up. Reserve officers arrived at the scene a short time later and recovered cash and a loaded handgun, the department said.
Hernandez told KTLA that it was “lucky” that no one was injured, adding, “I thank God that it turned out the way it did.”
The suspect is charged with multiple charges, including robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, police said.
Why not choose another convenience store chain?
Interestingly, the same thing happened four days ago at a 7-Eleven in Carson, about 50 minutes southwest of West Covina.
Yes, sheriff's deputies intercepted four armed suspects attempting to rob a convenience store, but the result was the same: all four were arrested.
KTLA is Frequent robberies at 7-Eleven The robberies occurred across Los Angeles and Long Beach, but authorities have not said whether they are related to the robberies.
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