Athens-Clarke County police are investigating an early Monday attempted armed robbery of an eastside convenience store.
A gunman entered Golden Pantry on Barnett Shoals shortly after 3 a.m., pointed a pistol at the clerk and demanded she open the cash register, according to police.
The clerk, a 29-year-old Athens resident, told police she was at the drink station when the robber came in, holding a gun in one hand and a bag in the other. He was wearing gloves on both hands, the clerk observed.
The bandit no sooner made his demand when he bolted out of the store, apparently spooked by a customer who just pulled up in a vehicle, according to police.
Police said the clerk described the suspect as a thin black man about 5-feet, 7-inches tall, possibly with a goatee, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black and white sneakers, police said.
Monday afternoon police released an image of the suspect taken by a convenience store security camera.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information helping police identify the suspect.
Police asked anyone with information to call Sgt. Mark Malueg at (706) 613-3888, ext. 298. Anonymous calls can be made to the Crime Stoppers confidential tip line at (706) 705-4775.
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