Crook Who Tried to Use Hot Coffee as a Weapon Gets Surprise From 7-Eleven Clerk

Hot coffee can be quite painful -- just ask Stella Liebeck, the woman who famously sued McDonald's back in the 90s after she was burned when she spilled a piping hot cup of Joe on herself.

Perhaps taking a cue from instances like this, a suspected thief tried splashing a cup of coffee, which he pretended to purchase, onto a Florida convenience store clerk.

According to the Tampa Tribune, the incident occurred at a 7-Eleven Oct. 12, but police only just released surveillance video of the incident, hoping it would help find the suspect.

In the video, a man is seen walking with an open cup of coffee to the register. He places it on the counter and begins to pay for it, but when the clerk opens the register to get change, the man pounces. He throws the coffee at the clerk and lunges toward the register.

The man did not have a lid on his coffee, which later made it easier for him to throw on the clerk. (Image source: YouTube video screenshot)

As the cashier opened the register, the man threw the coffee and made a grab for cash. (Image source: YouTube video screenshot)

The clerk quickly backed away at first, but he quickly came back into the surveillance video's field of view -- this time with a gun in hand.

The suspect instantly sprung up and began to run when he saw the gun-wielding clerk. (Image source: YouTube video screenshot)

Police have still not caught the man in the video. (Image source: YouTube video screenshot)

Seeing the weapon, the thief ran from the scene with the clerk following. Police said the suspect also threatened him with a knife.

It is unclear from reports whether the suspect made off with any cash.

Watch the footage courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times:

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