HOUSTON – A convenience store clerk got the upper hand on an would-be robber after placing him in a chokehold in the store, deputies said.
Fort Bend County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Citgo service station and convenience store on Highway 6 at Old Richmond Road after receiving a call about a robbery attempt.
Store owners said three men entered the store shortly before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and began browsing around.
One man walked to a kiosk where cellphones were being sold, knelt behind it and began taking merchandise, deputies said.
At that point, store personnel confronted the man and began to wrestle with him in order to get their cellphones back. The man was put into a chokehold and was eventually subdued. However, his friend re-entered the store and threatened to kill the clerks if they didn't let him go.
The man who made the threat retreated outside and he and another man left in a silver BMW.
The last man left the store without his shoes. His partners did not wait for him and he was forced to run away barefoot.
The first man is said to be about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 175 to 185 pounds. He was wearing a dark shirt over a striped undershirt and gray shorts.
The second man stands about 6 feet tall. He was wearing a bandana on his head with sunglasses around the bandana. He had long black hair, a mustache and beard, and wore a green t-shirt and blue jeans.
A description of the third man was not available.
No injuries were reported and the would-be robbers left empty-handed.
Fort Bend County Crimes Stoppers, Inc. will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in the robbery case. All calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.