Store owner recaptures register from robber

10/27/2002

A store owner chased down a robbery suspect in a central Toledo alley Friday and took back the cash register that was stolen, police said.

Luay Elayan, 42, was working at K&P Market II, 1865 Norwood Ave., about 10:30 p.m. when a man entered the store and asked for cigarettes. The man pulled a pistol and demanded the money. Because Mr. Elayan delayed handing over some cash, the suspect pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire, police said.

The owner and the gunman struggled over the cash register and the power cord broke. The suspect ran behind the store with the register toward a vacant lot on Fernwood Avenue. The owner grabbed the register, but was hit on the head with a rock by a second man. The men fled in a 1970s-model white truck with a blue stripe. Mr. Elayan took the register back to the store, police said.