Just say 'no': Gutsy cashier tells woman attempting to rob her to get back in line
A cashier at an Ypsilanti Township Speedway station wouldn't budge about 12:45 a.m. Monday when a woman approached her, claiming to have a gun and demanding money, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The cashier promptly told the woman “No” and ordered her to get back in line because other customers were waiting, according to deputies.
The woman began to walk around the counter when the cashier informed her that she was going to call police to the station, located in the 1300 block of East Michigan Avenue, deputies stated.
Upon hearing that warning, the woman ran from the station, according to deputies.
The woman apparently had her shirt pulled over her head when she entered the store, deputies stated.
The woman is described as black, in her 40s, about 5-feet-7 inches tall with a medium build. No further description was available.
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 734-973-7711.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Bertha Venation
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
Atta Girl!!
a2gretta
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
Let's give the cashier credit for sizing up the situation and acting appropriately. We can imagine all sorts of fictional scenarios, but she was there and decided there was no real threat.
A A Resident
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.
Someone, please inform our founders that it's a bad idea to stand on principle, putting their lives at risk. While you're at it, please inform Lincoln too.
Will Warner
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
'you are always taught to give up the money. In my opinion, any cashier who would have reacted like this cashier, would be a liability and therefore relieved of their duties...permanently. There is nothing heroic about calling the bluff of someone who is trying to rob you. Playing 'hero' can be fatal.' It is a craven society that makes safety the highest good, that advises its citizens to not resist violation but to bend of over and take it.
brian
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 4:33 a.m.
Probably one of my customers down at Lucky Two.
a2xarob
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 1:27 a.m.
Well, I hope the cashier will not be fired. But if the Speedway does have a policy to give up the money, then she can be reminded of it and told not to do this again.
thedime
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
On my way to work tomorrow, I will stop and get a current picture of the filling station. It recently underwent a rebuild. Good story though
Honest Abe
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 9:14 p.m.
Bottom line - This cashier should be and probably will be fired.
Terry Star21
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 10:47 p.m.
Agreed.....human safety always comes first !
Terry Star21
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.
I see the comedians are having a good time with this story. Seriously, is this the kind of situation to make fun of ? Cashiers are subject to great danger including death in situations like this, not to mention customer safety. The protocol, a golden rule at banks, is to give up the money, survive, and let the law do their work. The law works very well. This story had a good ending (so far), others have not.
A A Resident
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
Silly robber. Pulling her shirt over her head might have worked, had there been a male employee behind the counter.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.
Bazinga
Billy Bob Schwartz
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:17 p.m.
Anyone who promotes firing a gun (shotgun????) in a crowded Speedway should not be allowed to carry. Collateral damage may be expected in bombing attacks, but shouldn't be expected in attempted robbery of a Speedway.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
lol incorrect, you may lessen collateral damage to the sides of the target, BUT anyone or three people behind them or the people in the next several rooms have increased danger from serious over penetration.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:32 p.m.
No collateral if you're loaded with slugs, right?
Suzanne
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.
Maybe the cashier didn't understand her with her shirt over her head...lol
Hmm
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
A lone woman standing 5' 7" with a medium build does not make a very intimidating robber. Now if she was brandishing a fire arm or some other weapon that would probably have done the trick but just her standing there demanding money is probably not going to scare very many people into complying.
justcurious
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.
curiouser and curiouser....
AySquared
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.
Now that's a great cashier. Most of these robbers don't carry guns on them even when they say they do.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 7:35 p.m.
Does anyone know if it is SPEEDWAY'S policy to give up the money without resistance when being robbed, regardless if a weapon is present or not? Also, is it company policy to gamble with your life and other peoples as well (customers inside store) by telling the perp "NO" and to "get in line"?? Cashiers are told to never resist and give up the cash! Period. The cashier reacted in a way that had somewhat humorous results. The cashier got lucky. The cashier should be terminated. This cashier went from an employee who was an asset to Speedway, to a liability, no matter how you look at it or whether you would of gave the money up or not.
Madeleine Borthwick
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:36 p.m.
Abe....first she was confronted by a would-be thief and now you say she should be fired. Real Nice!! if anyone's a liability, it's the you-know-what who tried to hold up the place.
Mick52
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6 p.m.
Walk in and announce to a line of people you have a gun. Unless you are real quick on the draw, no better way to get yourself shot. "Please get in line, then there will be more cash for you to rob from us." Wouldn't a smart robber figure that out? Wait till everyone has bought something?
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
The women clearly did not brandish the gun when she claimed she had one. Seems to be a big window to pull a howitzer from under the counter. Take firearm defense classes. Many people that have CPLs go the extra mile and do their due diligence about how to react in certain situations.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
Robber = smart Not really....if they were smart, they'd have a job!
Jim H
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
I hope the cashier is OK. Nice, hardworking people at that Speedway. Very traumatic regardless of the outcome.
YpsiVeteran
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:40 p.m.
I'd like to see someone invent a system where, not only do the doors automatically lock when the clerk presses a panic button, but water cannons instantly come out of the ceiling and pound the crap out of the suspect until the police arrive. Or maybe the clerk presses a button and the suspect falls into a pit beneath the floor filled with fire ants or something else not really lethal but highly painful.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 5:59 p.m.
Well Masaad Ayoob is an internationally recognized authority on judicious use of force. Apparently you are among his detractors but focusing on youtube to color perception on his words does not lessen his lessons. That being said also perhaps you should recognize that your law enforcement instructions do not necessarily apply to civilian/non LEO self defense. You ought to be aware, that the scenario you have advocated can have serious consequences that an off duty LEO would never have to face.
Mick52
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 2:20 a.m.
Rice I am not sure what you mean. I know who this guy is and I don't care what he says. Anybody can post anything on YouTube. I was a firearms instructor for a police department for years. Brandishing? What has that got to do with anything? If I am carrying in a store and someone says "I have a gun, gimmee the money" but has not drawn, I am going to pull if I can before he does. I am not going to shoot him unless he does something that I can articulate is a lethal danger. I suggest you get your training/facts/info from more legitimate sources than Youtube.
f4phantomII
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
I'd like to see a boxing glove on a very powerful spring.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:50 p.m.
@ Mick52, please search YouTube for Masaad Ayoob. Especially where he discusses Ability, Opportunity & Jeopardy. http://www.corneredcat.com/Ability_Opportunity_Jeopardy/ Drawing a firearm is brandishing, brandishing by law is the same as deadly force. The only reason to draw a firearm is because of a deadly threat that satisfies ability, opportunity and jeopardy and your willingness to stop the threat. Your answer is incorrect or incomplete on many levels.
Mick52
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:47 p.m.
No RedWinghero a cop would not shoot you for yelling you had a gun in an airport. They might if you pull one. My point is you can't shoot somebody for saying they have a gun. You need more than that. Like some motion they were going for it, etc. That is what Zimmerman is facing, he shot an unarmed person, even with Florida's don't have back down law, he is in a big pot of uh oh even with lots of proof they were fighting. In re to structure, I would like to see a double door lobbies where the clerk can push a button and lock perps between two sets of doors with unbreakable glass. What dangerous jobs some folks have.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:25 p.m.
The steel doors that came down on those guys in the movie 'Snatch' would be a good touch. Right after the little lady behind the counter grabbed the tactical shotgun and let them have it.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:21 p.m.
Mick, Would a cop shoot you for yelling you have a gun loudly in an airport? What occured with Zimmerman and a armed robbery of a gas station aren't exactly apples to apples.
Mick52
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:05 p.m.
Cory if you act like that you are going to be pen pals with George Zimmerman down in Florida asking for advise and the name of a good lawyer. You can't shoot somebody for just saying something like that. It would give you cause to pull and point, but you shoot and they are unarmed you are going to have some issues to deal with.
Cory
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6 p.m.
Yeah, it's called a 9mm. If the robber had said something along the lines of "I have a gun, and I'm gonna kill you" means that if there was a CPL holder there, the robber could have been legally shot on sight, and we'd have one less crackhead on the streets.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:17 p.m.
Any money the robber would have gotten, would have been insured. As a business owner and former owner of a market, you are always taught to give up the money. In my opinion, any cashier who would have reacted like this cashier, would be a liability and therefore relieved of their duties...permanently. There is nothing heroic about calling the bluff of someone who is trying to rob you. Playing 'hero' can be fatal.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
"Let's say this person WAS actually waving a gun in the cashiers face, should they give them the money? or not?" Someone's waving a gun in my face, I assume I'm a dead man. Why does it matter what I do at that point?
Ricebrnr
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
Only you keep mentioning playing at hero and clearly one advice will not fit all scenarios, but building on my theme, how about making the business less inviting for criminals? Lots of obvious cameras (and some hidden), barriers between cashiers and robbers etc. no heroism needed, just prudent preparation.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
@Rice, so what do you suppose is the best method that should be taught to cashiers? Tell the robber 'no' and get back in line? Should speedway have their cashiers receive firearms training and carry a weapon on their person during work? Let's say this person WAS actually waving a gun in the cashiers face, should they give them the money? or not? You are entitled to your opinion, and I see where you're coming from too, but when dealing with a firearm, it is best to give them what they want. You have a much better chance at walking away from the situation than if you try to play hero.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:36 p.m.
@Abe, I understand where you are coming from but I respectfully disagree. Criminals are by nature lazy creatures. If you make it easy to take money from a location does that make them rob it less or more? If they rob it more, is there less or more chances of bad outcomes. If there are more chances of bad outcomes, did you increase or reduce risk to your employees or patrons? Gun shops and police stations are rarely robbed for a reason. Just giving them the money is not and should not be the only option.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
Can't blame the cashier for reacting the way she did (at least on moral grounds). Threatening someone's life is far beyond basic reasoning, moral decency. Someone threatens you with a gun, seems to me they have all the motive and capability they want to kill you.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.
@Redwings and Rice - By not giving the money, you're increasing the chances of the robbery escalating. Any robbery can be potentially fatal. You do not have to be a cashier to get robbed either. Most robbers want to get the money and leave. If a robber has the capability and motive to kill you, they will do it regardless if you give them the money. You're also not making things 'easy' by giving up the cash, you're being smart. As a cashier, it should not matter. First, the money is not yours. Next it is insured and it is not your job to foil or stop a robbery. As a citizen, you have options, you can carry little or no cash, be aware of your surroundings and if you have a clean record, you can explore a CCW.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
If being robbed, would you turn the other cheek and immediately offer the robber at job at your store (seeing as how they must be hard pressed financially)?
Ricebrnr
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
and just giving up the money, making the crime "easy" and the location attractive to criminals reduces liability how?
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:22 p.m.
What if giving the money still proved to be a fatal outcome? What then?
TrappedinMI
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.
Hilarious! Might have been dangerous, but since all went well, totally awesome!!!
xmo
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5 p.m.
Maybe the cashier needs to take a class in manners! Doesn't she know that the customer is always right!
Madeleine Borthwick
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:40 p.m.
ha-ha-ha!!! NOT!!!!
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 5:12 p.m.
Maybe the robber should take some common sense and decency classes. Unless she was going to take that cash and make a donation to the Coast Guard Youth Auxilary....
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
Now, if she said 'no' with a Clint Eastwood scowl, that would be awesome.
Sutro1
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:37 p.m.
She may be "gutsy", but actually she is extemely lucky. She put her life and the lives of the other customers at risk.
M.
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 10:04 a.m.
Most places I have worked instruct you to hand over the money and not put yourself at risk by trying to "be brave". None, in fact, have ever said it was okay to try to fend off the robber.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
Redwing: My answer to your question: give up the boss's money and smile and say "Have a nice day."
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
Being held up, you are always in a catch-22. The robber may be bent on using lethal force anyways. You could give money and you/others could be shot/killed, or you could stand your ground and be shot/killed. What's the better option of the two?
Rob MI
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
This reminds me of what happened at a Burger King somewhere a number of years ago (or so I've read). A would-be robber tried to hold up a cashier but was told the register couldn't be opened unless an order was placed. The robber then ordered a Whopper but was told that since the restaurant was serving breakfast, Whoppers weren't available. Exasperated (and completely stupid), the crook gave up and left empty-handed.
Billy
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
Sounds like the cashier identified the perpetrator as a "crackhead." Knowing this, it would be apparent that any "implied" gun would clearly only be such. A crackhead would never have a gun....because that gun would have been traded for crack.
Paula Gardner
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
Not really, oldblueypsi. But thanks for reading.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.
Classic, telling a robber to get back in line. I think I would have been less customer service oriented and just told her to get the ---- out. Please please post the video to America's Dumbest Criminals! Love that show.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
I have no experiance in this, but I don't think my plan for pulling off a sucessful robbery would be to pull my own shirt over my head. I have seen enough hockey games to know this is a bad move. So, for starters, I guess the police are NOT looking for a hockey player. Glad to help out Ypsi's finest.
redwingshero
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 4:39 p.m.
Did she pull a Jim Schwartz move and yell at her "Learn the blanking rules"!
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
your "A" bubble appears to be off by several blocks.
Robo
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:30 a.m.
Barbaria! HAHA! thank you.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
Craig- It would appear so. Google is apparently just going to do whatever it wants today. I've fixed that with an updated map.
oldblueypsi
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
More than several blocks-the other side of town. The bubble is on West Michigan Ave. The Speedway mentioned is at East Michigan and Harris Rd. If annarbor.com required its "reporters" to familiarize themselves with the geography of its coverage area, this wouldn't occur. But, unfortunately, aa.com lumps everything east of Carpenter Rd. into one pot called "Barbaria".
CupCait
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
She most likely has to pay for the losses out of her paycheck. Although I don't think the amount of her paycheck is worth her life.
ferdcom
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
She does not have to pay for losses.
tommy_t
Mon, Jul 9, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
"No" and ordered her to get back in line.................priceless.