Man Attacks Clerk During Beer Theft

A man caught stealing $13 worth of beer from a North Side supermarket attacked an employee before running away - the latest in a rash of violent minor thefts citywide.

At 1:20 a.m. Monday, a man left the Tidyman’s at 6401 N. Cedar, without paying for two 12-packs of beer, police said.

A clerk who tried stopping the man was hit and threatened with more harm. The suspect then picked up several cans of beer he had dropped and walked away, police said.

By striking and threatening the clerk, the crime escalated from misdemeanor theft to felony robbery, according to police.

The suspect is described as Hispanic, 17 to 20 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 130 pounds.

, DataTimes