Good Samaritan Breaks Up New Jersey Robbery Attempt

DOVER, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Morris County are looking for a would-be robber who injured a store clerk and then was scared off by a Good Samaritan.

As CBS 2's Lou Young reported, a man punched a female store clerk and lunged for money behind a counter late Sunday night, but was scared off and ran after a store customer suddenly appeared.

"If not for the Good Samaritan, that woman would've been hurt worse," said Dover police Sgt. Richard Gonzalez.

The attack occurred at Multimex, a long-distance phone call and cell phone shop.

Police believe the customer got the best look at the would-be robber but are worried he's too frightened to come forward.

"Certain people are afraid of their status as far as being an American citizen, but I want to assure them we are a safe place for anyone to come in and give us assistance," said police Detective Joseph Camacho.

Meanwhile, residents are upset that someone would punch the well-liked clerk so savagely.

"If I was there, I would beat the guy, man," said Cain Rivera, of Dover, after being shown the surveillance video of the attack. "I would go through him."

The victim is receiving a lot of sympathy and respect for quickly jumping up after the attack, grabbing the store's keys and locking the door behind the assailant.

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