Clerk scares off would-be robber in Leominster

LEOMINSTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- A would-be robber entered a convenience store in Leominster brandishing a knife on Tuesday, but the store’s clerk scared the suspect off with a baseball bat.

“A subject walked into the Ultra Mart on Central Street here in Leominster, he was brandishing a knife and demanding money from the clerk. The clerk is off camera to the right in the video -- you can’t see him. And the clerk, instead of complying, picked up an aluminum baseball bat he had behind the counter and raised it towards the subject and he immediately fled,” said Sergeant Charles Doherty, Leominster Police Department. “Turned and fled pretty quickly and didn’t bother to argue.”

The owner of the convenience store said his brother, a co-owner of the store, was the one who chased the suspect off.

“I guess, you know, you leave it up to his judgment. I think he just didn’t feel like being victimized and had the bat behind the counter for his own protection and did what he thought was best in the circumstance,” Sergeant Doherty said.

The suspect was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a mask.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.

“Appeared to be a white male, probably in his late teens, early 20s. If you recognize him just from the video, from his body type and the clothing he was wearing,” said Sergeant Doherty.

Leominster Police has posted surveillance photos of the suspect on their Facebook page. If you have any information about the incident, call Leominster Police.

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