Workers fight off suspected robber in Conn.

UNDATED (NBC) -- On Monday night, two workers at a New Haven convenience store fought back against an attempted armed robber and helped police track down the suspect.

Cameras rolling inside Gerry’s Shell Food Mart on Willow Street caught the whole incident on camera.

Police say that David Nielsen was caught on surveillance video walking in around 5:30 pm. Footage shows Neilsen walk up to the counter where he posed as a customer.

He then allegedly pulled a knife out of his pocket, held it up to the clerk’s neck and demanded money.

“I was like you know what, I’m not going to let him stab me,” said that clerk, Syed Naqshband.

His instincts kicked in and Naqshband grabbed Nielsen’s arm to get the weapon.

“If I didn’t pull him he would have switched the hand and he would have been stabbing me,” Naqshband explained.

His boss came to the rescue just seconds later.

Video shows the owner pushed Nielsen outside and he tried holding him down until police arrived. Owner Gerry Katz admitted he did not know the suspect had a knife.

“I don’t know if I would have done that (had I known). I guess that’s what they call an adrenaline rush,” Katz said

Neilsen put up a fight, struggling with Katz across the parking lot.

The suspect was so resistant, his clothes actually ripped off. That’s when he got away.

“There was nothing left. His shirt was ripped; his pants were ripped.I couldn’t hold onto anything else,” Katz explained.

The clerk was right there and chased Neilsen down the street. When he saw police show up, he pointed them in the right direction and they arrested Neilsen within minutes.

“It's a tremendous relief to get him off the street. He meant business,” said Katz

Police said David Nielsen is from Meriden and could be responsible for other armed robberies in the area.