Renton store clerk thwarts robbery attempt
RENTON, Wash. -- A quick-thinking and brave convenience store clerk in Renton was able to thwart an attempted robbery last week while also helping police catch the alleged crook.
The evening began like any other night shift for cashier Robin Rice, but then she spotted someone who didn't look right inside her Rainier Avenue AM-PM.
"There was someone who kind of looked suspicious," she said.
Moments later, Rice's worst fear began to unfold.
"Is this is really happening right now?" she said. "Am I really being robbed?"
Rice said the man approached her with a pen and paper and wrote her a note demanding money. The whole thing was captured on surveillance video.
She didn't know whether the man was armed or violent, but Rice knew she wasn't giving him the money.
"I told him no, that he needed to leave," Rice said.
With the robber standing in front of her, Rice slowly pulled her phone out of her back pocket and dialed 911 without the robber noticing.
"It was very bold," said store manager Maria Lane. "I was really proud of her the way the way that she handled it."
Rice told the 911 dispatcher she was being robbed. When the robber turned around and left the store a short time later, police were waiting for him.
"She prevented any loss of property or harm to herself, and because she acted so quickly they apprehend him as well," Lane said.
Lane said Renton police are now paying extra close attention to the store to help curb crime in the neighborhood.
The evening began like any other night shift for cashier Robin Rice, but then she spotted someone who didn't look right inside her Rainier Avenue AM-PM.
"There was someone who kind of looked suspicious," she said.
Moments later, Rice's worst fear began to unfold.
"Is this is really happening right now?" she said. "Am I really being robbed?"
Rice said the man approached her with a pen and paper and wrote her a note demanding money. The whole thing was captured on surveillance video.
She didn't know whether the man was armed or violent, but Rice knew she wasn't giving him the money.
"I told him no, that he needed to leave," Rice said.
With the robber standing in front of her, Rice slowly pulled her phone out of her back pocket and dialed 911 without the robber noticing.
"It was very bold," said store manager Maria Lane. "I was really proud of her the way the way that she handled it."
Rice told the 911 dispatcher she was being robbed. When the robber turned around and left the store a short time later, police were waiting for him.
"She prevented any loss of property or harm to herself, and because she acted so quickly they apprehend him as well," Lane said.
Lane said Renton police are now paying extra close attention to the store to help curb crime in the neighborhood.
Never would I risk my life to protect a big corporations profits. I would have given the guy the money and then when he left I would have called  the cops.
She was very lucky she didn't get hurt. He could have been carrying a weapon and then pulled it out when he got pissed. He could have been gacking on drugs which could make his behavior unpredictable. I hope other store clerks don't think this is the way to handle things. The best way for their own safety is to hand over the money and call 911 afterwards or another option could be, if they have handy access to a gun and know how to use it, shoot them then and there.
 @The WA Mama I agree, she was lucky. The headline could just as easily read something completely different
What kind of a stoopid idiot takes the time to write a note (taking his eyes off his victim) after he enters a store? Â Wish there was video of his face as he walked right into the arms of law enforcement!
People should really take news from any media outlet with a "grain of salt." Too often people regard news reporting as the totality of the facts and circumstances when it is not. News reporting, especially present day reporting, are more often than not biased and influenced by the media outlet's overall agenda. Because of recent gun control issues, I can't help but think that this (week old incident) article was written to appeal to the anti-gunners, hence the "anti" and "pro" gun commenters. If one were to research the factual report written by the police officer (a copy should be available because the incident was a week old), then you will find that this article was anti-climatic. The suspect in this case was mentally challenged and "handicapable." My point is that responsible journalism, in this incident, would not have only celebrated the instincts of the clerk, which thankfully resulted in a safe and positive outcome, but would also bring attention to society's approach, or lack thereof, to mental illness. The irony is that the media and our government are so focused on the "instruments" used in violent crime, i.e. guns, guns, guns....that they ignore and/or dismiss an individuals mental health as a major contributor in violent crime. If you don't believe me, then tell me why is Obama and Biden placing extreme emphasis on gun control instead of concentrating efforts on mental health? Identifying and treating the mentally ill will not only save lives but improve the quality of life for the patient, as well as the family and friends who care for them. Just my thoughts.
I would have liked to reply earlier, but I had to get to work. Thank you for the insight. Obviously some people won't read your response, but thank you.
 @cawlnaduckaduck Well said. I worked in Mental Health about 45 years ago and many of the positive changes to the mental health system ended up being not so good because the money wasn't there to hire the people needed to help those who needed it. The loss of revenue sharing in the early 80s was a big contributor to this loss.
Darn I was hoping this would have involved a double barreled shotgun to this guys face...problem solved... I see a plea in our future... Not Guilty!....sheesh we need those Judge Dred autocannons for people like this...
jail is good but dead would have been awesome
The crap people do for $10 bucks per hour hour. You gotta give her credit cause that girl's got moxie
This comment has been deleted
 @below-this-you-beach! Don't feed the Troll.Â
@below-this-you-beach! Â
Â
So, are you suggest arming everyone and shoot to kill anyone who appears suspicious? Nice!!
Â
Your narrow-minded view of the world stops you and your rep Rambo wannabes from even considering other means of solving problems. I think we are narrowing the list of who shouldn't have guns and it starts with republicans. Now, that is a 47% I don't want to be a part of.Â
 @Socialjusticeforall If the robbers started getting shot when they tried to rob someone the number of crooks that re-offend would be considerably less.
 @Socialjusticeforall You should have had a cup of coffee BEFORE logging on to the comment system this morning.
Again with the passive liberal offensive behavior. You assume a stereotype that is so rare as to not exist. Yes, there are some people who use a gun as a form of self assurance and import, but the vast majority of gun owners hope to never have to use their gun and will try every other means to avoid having to use it. Stop already with the rudeness toward people who you don't agree with.Â
Yeah, great, now we have another expense to our system, a court appointed lawyer, hours of court time, eventually a too brief of a stint of three hots and a cot, and they be right back at it.
Â
If she had pulled out a gun and pointed it at his head, pulled the trigger, we'd have saved a lot of tax dollars, word gets out that robbing this store will result in immediate termination.
Â
PROBLEM GETS SOLVED!
 @blaster I like your way of thinking. If the punishment is severe enough people won't do the crime. An armed society is a better society.
This comment has been deleted
 @blaster And she would have forever wondered if she actually had to kill him to stop him or if she could have handled it differently. She handled it fine as it was.
 @blaster Don't forget the unemployment the clerk will be seeking after this reaches corporate and she is fired for violating company policy.
It's one thing to pull out a large caliber weapon and instantly smoke a dirtbag. It's quite another to fiddle fart around and play mind games with him just to see if you can pi$$ him off......over someone else's money, in the middle of the night....for minimum wage.Â
 @bagsofdirt So you think people should just rollover and give criminals what they want... I say hell NO! ... these D-bags need to start getting shot by their potential victims... only when robbery is a life threatening undertaking 'for the robber' will we see either it drop entirely or more people getting dropped - personally any armed thief should get mandatory life in prison and death if they kill or hurt anyone in the process of their crime!
"Lane said Renton police are now paying extra close attention to the store to help curb crime in the neighborhood."
Â
Phew. That will certainly scare off the criminal element of NW Renton and SE Seattle, chop chop.
 @Getov Mylon Yeah, and lets -advertise- that so that the criminals know which store -not- to go to for the next while!
I admire her bravery but the smart thing to do is always give them the money. You never know if he's going to pull a gun and shoot you just for telling him no. You don't owe AM-PM your life.Â
 @VoiceofReason Nor do you know that he WON'T shoot you after giving him the money.
@Furd @VoiceofReason Statistically in these situations, the thief will take the money and run. The chances of survival by the clerk are actually much higher if they comply and let the POS get out as quick as he can.
I think looking down to write a note might not be a good plan...Maybe had to think about how to spell the words too. Takes too much time.
she didn't know if the robber was armed or violent, but she was willing to risk her life over a couple of bucks in an AM/PM till??
That was brave of you Robin. Quick thinking. Glad you or anyone else didn't get hurt and the man was caught!
 @Jordan Are you kidding... I was hoping the thief would have been ventilated by someone so we don't have to pay to put the fool in lock up!