Gun-Wielding Illinois Robber Leaves Contact Information With Store Employees After 'Stick-Up'

Chicago, IL (AHN) - Authorities arrested a man who attempted to rob a local muffler store, and left his contact number with the employees.

At about 9 a.m. Monday, Ruben Zarate, 18 years old, allegedly went to a Mufflers for Less, and held up the place at gunpoint, insisting that the employees hand over the money. He was told, however, that there was no money in the store at the moment, as the manager was the only one with access to the safe, and he was not present.

Furious, the thief reportedly left his cellphone number to the employees, and demanded that they contact him when the safe could be opened.

"He said, 'You guys better call me because otherwise I'm going to come back and shoot you'," Jose Sida, 37-year old mechanic, told the Chicago Tribune.

The employees then contacted the police, who arrived at the store at Laramie Avenue. Authorities arrived at the scene, dressed in plainclothes, and instructed the employees to call Zarate and inform him that the money was available.

Zarate arrived at the scene, where he pulled out his gun from under his hooded sweatshirt when a policeman identified himself as an officer.

The UPI reported that at least one officer fired back when Zarate pointed his gun at the officer.

The suspect was shot in the leg, incapacitating him and rendering him unable to fire his gun.

Zarate was taken to the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.