Store clerk chases off would-be robber with ax

(Brookhaven - WABC, October 23, 2007) (WABC) -- Suffolk County police say a feisty Long Island store clerk refused a gunman's demands for money and instead chased him out with an ax.

The suspect entered the Southhaven Convenience store shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, wearing a mask and demanding money.

The clerk, Hafize Sahin, retrieved the ax from under the counter and began swinging it, chasing the man out of the store empty-handed.

Long Island reporter Emily Smith has the story.

The video is incredible. A 4-foot-5, 90-pound woman, who works at the convenience store, is seen grabbing an ax to scare off an armed would-be robber and save her family store from being robbed.

The masked suspect can be seen pointing a handgun directly at the store clerk's head, demanding money. He looks her over and even knocks her back. Then, the two just stare at each other.

The 27-year-old clerk said she was trying to stall the man, telling him she couldn't find the button to open the register.

Then, when he walks away to make sure no one is coming, she grabs the ax and swings it at him over and over until she finally chases him out of sight.

"I'm trying to show him it's not easy money," she said.

Sahin says the suspect seemed nervous and she thought the gun was a toy. So she fought back to save her family's money. Even she can't believe she did it.

"I shouldn't have done that," she said.

Sahin says the ax belongs to her father and is used to chop wood. She admits she found the courage to fight back only because she thought the suspect had a toy gun.

"I feel right now, if it is like that, yes, not worth it," she said.

While Sahin knows she is lucky and that it is not suggested to try to retaliate, she can't promise she'll surrender if it happens again.

"If anybody come here, to do it like this, it's not easy," she said.

Sahin did not end up hitting the suspect with the ax, and police say he is still on the loose.

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