Pizza shop owner injured after stopping thief from taking tip jar

By: Elizabeth Dorsett - Email

Updated: Tue 7:08 PM, Nov 27, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Police say a man injured a restaurant employee while trying to steal some money.

It happened just before 9 p.m. Monday at LA Gourmet pizza at the corner of West Main and Broadway.

Police say the suspect ordered a pizza, then tried to steal a tip jar from the counter.

When one of the store owners tried to stop him, police say he hit the clerk in the head with a bike lock and ran off.

"The Police told him he needed to go to the hospital, but he refused," explained Tareq Ellala, whose brother was the one attacked.

Ellala says he's been victimized in the store as well, but never with the large, metal bike lock used to keep track of the bathroom key. He says this incident speaks to a bigger problem in downtown Lexington.

"We need more security," Ellala said.

Hussein Ellala had minor injuries. Police have not made any arrests.

Police say the suspect in this case is a black man, around 5'11", who was wearing a black jacket, jeans, black shoes, and a gray knit cap at the time of the attempted robbery.

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