Suspect in Failed Robbery Arrested

An alleged robber who departed a convenience store empty-handed after a cashier locked him in and refused to let him leave with the goods was arrested Friday, authorities said.

About 3:15 p.m. Thursday, a man entered the Handiest Food Mart on Princeton Avenue with a pellet gun wrapped in white cloth and demanded money from the cashier, authorities said.

“I took it as a joke,” said Emiliano Martinez, the cashier. “I told him I have no money. Then I realized this was serious and got scared.”

Because Martinez declined to cooperate, the would-be robber grabbed a stack of scratch-off lottery tickets and some adult magazines, Martinez said.

Martinez locked the door and wouldn’t let the man leave until he returned the goods, authorities said.

“I closed the door and told him to put everything back,” Martinez said.

Eventually he did, and Martinez said he opened the door and let him go.

“It worked, but I wouldn’t recommend it,” said Det. Allen Devers of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies Friday arrested Juan Torres, 23, of Moorpark on suspicion of robbery. His bail was set at $100,000.

Taking property through force or fear qualifies as robbery even if a suspect leaves empty-handed, Devers said.