Halton Regional Police are investigating the attempted robbery of an Oakville convenience store early last Wednesday morning that was foiled by a stubborn employee that wouldn’t hand over the cash.

Shortly after 4 am, a man wearing a bandana over his face entered Joe’s Market at 570 Kerr Street and demanded money. He threatened the employee by saying he had a knife, though no knife was seen. The employee was not intimidated and refused to hand over the contents of the till.

Joes Market was also robbed earlier this month on August 1.

The employee advanced on the suspect. Realizing he was out matched, the suspect high-tailed it from the store empty-handed.

Although nothing was taken and no one was injured in the attempted robbery, Halton Regional Police Services does not recommend dealing with a robbery in this manner.

“I would always suggest people just comply,” said Detective Sergeant Kevin Maher of the Halton Police Service. “It’s best just to cooperate.”

The suspect, described as black, 17 to 19-years-old 5’5”, wearing black pants, black long sleeve shirt and a toque. The suspect was also seen later on that morning acting suspiciously outside the Petro-Canada and the Shoppers Drug Mart in the same area.

In 2007, Oakville had a total of 43 robberies, ranging from street level robberies to bank heists. This year to date, there have been 27.

Here are a few tips that Halton Regional Police Services suggest you use when confronted by a robber:
• Remain calm
• Obey the robber’s commands-no amount of money is worth personal injury
• Do not antagonize the robber
• Consider all firearms to be loaded
• Look at the robber- notice details that will aid you in describing them to police
• After the robbery, call 911

“The 24 hour places, the main thing that they have to do is make sure their windows at the front aren’t covered with posters and advertisements so that their store is visible from the street. Lots of lighting is important, video cameras that are obviously running, so that the perpetrator can see that there’s video. Some premises will lock their doors after a certain time of night and even though they’re still open will only open their doors when they feel that it is a legitimate customer,” said Maher.

Anyone with information is about this incident is asked to call Oakville Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 EXT 2215 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)