Crime & Safety

7-Eleven Customer Tries to Leave Without Paying for His Cigarettes; Clerk Injured During Scuffle

A window is broken and the clerk was injured, but he doesn't request medical treatment.

A clerk at the 7-Eleven at 5746 Amaya Drive got into a scuffle early Sunday morning with a customer who took two packs of cigarettes from a display behind the counter and tried to leave without paying, according to La Mesa police.

The clerk suffered a contusion around one of his eyes but did not request medical treatment, police said.

Police responded to a report of a robbery at the 7-Eleven around 1:47 a.m. and found the injured clerk and one of the store windows broken. The clerk told officers that he was mopping the floor when a man walked into the store and went to the rear of the cashier’s cage near the cigarette display, according to police.

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The clerk saw the man grab two packs of Marlboro cigarettes and attempt to leave without paying. The clerk tried to prevent him from leaving and struck the thief with the handle of the mop, police said.

A fight ensued between the clerk and the thief and punches were exchanged, according to police.

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During the struggle, the thief’s elbow hit a window and broke it, police said. The fight spilled outside where a second man joined the fight and was able to free the first man from the clerk’s grasp. Police said the man were last seen running west on Amaya Drive.

The first man was described by police as a Hispanic male, 18 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, heavy build with medium-length brown hair. He was wearing a gray tank top and shorts.

The second was described by police as a white male, 18 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, medium build and wearing a button-down blue shirt.

If you have information about the alleged robbery you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line, 888-580 (TIPS) or visiting sdcrimestoppers.com.


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