Poetic justice: Cop walks into 7-Eleven while armed robber stands in front of register with bag full of stolen cash

A security camera captured a moment of poetic justice when a uniformed police officer walked into a southern California 7-Eleven last week while a hooded armed robber stood in front of the store's register with a bag full of stolen cash.

Let's just say the crook didn't get away with what he was after.

What are the details?

Video recorded the suspect — 48-year-old Ramon Gonzalez — approaching the counter of the store in West Covina on Wednesday and asking the clerk to grab him a pack of cigarettes, KTLA-TV reported.

As the clerk began placing the cigarettes into a bag, the station said the suspect lifted his sweatshirt, revealed a gun, and demanded everything in the register.

The clerk complied and began placing cash into the bag, KTLA said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

The crook might have gotten away with an easy heist, but as it was all going down, the security camera caught West Covina Sgt. Abel Hernandez — a frequent customer of the 7-Eleven — walking into the store to purchase some water and greet the clerk, the station said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

“So I saw the subject in there, and at first, I really didn’t think anything” Hernandez recounted to KTLA. “I saw the gloves, I saw the ski mask, and that night it was a little chilly, so I figured, 'Okay.'"

Image source: YouTube screenshot

But in those moments Hernandez also noticed the distressed look on the clerk's face, the station said.

“He’s always with a smile, but as I entered the store, I saw the fear in his face, and I knew something was up,” Hernandez added to KTLA. “I remember just keeping my eye on the subject.”

The robber soon lifted the bag of cash off the counter — about $400 — spotted Hernandez walking in, and made a run for the door, the station said.

The clerk shouted, “He’s got a gun! He robbed me!” as Hernandez turned and chased after the suspect, KTLA said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

“To me it seemed slow even though I look at the video, and it seemed like I took off pretty quick,” the 17-year veteran cop added to the station. “Everything sort of slows down. I was able to catch him 15 to 20 feet right outside the doors of the store.”

KTLA said Hernandez tackled the suspect, who put up a brief fight before giving up. Soon backup officers arrived at the scene, the station said, and they recovered the cash — as well as a loaded handgun.

Hernandez told KTLA that it was "fortunate" no one was hurt: “Thank God that the outcome was what it was.”

The suspect faces several charges including robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, the station said.

Maybe pick another convenience store chain?

Interestingly, the same thing happened at a 7-Eleven four days prior in Carson, which is about 50 minutes southwest of West Covina.

Yep, a sheriff's deputy walked in on four armed suspects trying to rob the convenience store, and the outcome was the same — all four were arrested.

KTLA said there has been a rash of robberies at 7-Eleven stores across Los Angeles and Long Beach, but authorities haven't said if the robberies are related.

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