CRANBERRY, Pa. - The would-be robber wanted to inspire fear, but his
choice of a Disney character mask to conceal his features provoked only
giggles from a convenience store clerk.
Cranberry police said a clerk at Gordon's Mini Market burst into laughter
when the person wearing a Pluto mask walked into the store about 9:45
p.m. Tuesday.
The clerk was laughing so hard he didn't comply with the robber's demand
to turn over the cash register money - so the frustrated robber left
the store, police said.
Police Sgt. Dave Kovach said the clerk's response was ill-advised and
dangerous, even if it foiled the robbery.
"Pluto could have been a strung-out heroin addict," Kovach
said. "You never know."
Pluto drove away in a car, but not before the clerk noticed that he
was 6-foot-2 and appeared to be white under the mask. Police believe
he's about 20 years old and weighs about 170 pounds.