Clerk throws empanadas at thief, The story of the attempted theft last Wednesday of a cash register from Amigo's Mexican Food in the 1200 block of East Poplar Street in Deming has grown legs.
Radio and television stations have hopped on the story as fast as a woman clerk at Amigo's foiled the attempted robbery when she threw a bag of empanadas at the would-be robber. Amigo's owner Arnold Orquiz and his wife Barbara have fielded calls from as far as Illinois from those wanting to know about the misguided caper.
The Associated Press has called Amigo's, Albuquerque television and radio stations have called or run the story as relayed by The AP and this Wednesday, a reporter and cameraman were at Amigo's from El Paso's ABC affiliate, KVIA (Channel 7), asking individuals what they thought of the attempted robbery and the woman's bravery in foiling the caper.
The story was not widely known until this past Monday, as the Deming Police Department was closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday and then for the weekend. It appeared in Tuesday's "Headlight" and has covered ground since then.
"She was behind the counter," Orquiz says of the clerk. "He (would-be robber) didn't see her, and he went for the register and got the whole damn thing. The cord got caught.
"She saw him, and screamed and grabbed the package of empanadas."
The package was heaved at the man, who was hit in the back of the head. He dropped the cash register and fled.
The would-be robber was described as a slender male wearing a mask, jeans and a sky-blue T-shirt. He was seen leaving the scene in a gray or primer-colored car with several other people.
The cash register broke when it hit the floor. The glass door at Amigo's was also broken.
Radio and television stations have hopped on the story as fast as a woman clerk at Amigo's foiled the attempted robbery when she threw a bag of empanadas at the would-be robber. Amigo's owner Arnold Orquiz and his wife Barbara have fielded calls from as far as Illinois from those wanting to know about the misguided caper.
The Associated Press has called Amigo's, Albuquerque television and radio stations have called or run the story as relayed by The AP and this Wednesday, a reporter and cameraman were at Amigo's from El Paso's ABC affiliate, KVIA (Channel 7), asking individuals what they thought of the attempted robbery and the woman's bravery in foiling the caper.
The story was not widely known until this past Monday, as the Deming Police Department was closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday and then for the weekend. It appeared in Tuesday's "Headlight" and has covered ground since then.
"She was behind the counter," Orquiz says of the clerk. "He (would-be robber) didn't see her, and he went for the register and got the whole damn thing. The cord got caught.
"She saw him, and screamed and grabbed the package of empanadas."
The package was heaved at the man, who was hit in the back of the head. He dropped the cash register and fled.
The would-be robber was described as a slender male wearing a mask, jeans and a sky-blue T-shirt. He was seen leaving the scene in a gray or primer-colored car with several other people.
The cash register broke when it hit the floor. The glass door at Amigo's was also broken.
