She says she probably wouldn’t do it again. But find out why others say that she gave the female bandit just what she deserved – and it wasn’t extra sprinkles on her donut …
Daylight Donuts, a locally-owned shop, is the scene of a bizarre robbery attempted that went bad – for the crook!
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
After the morning coffee-and-donut rush was over, just before noon on March 26, Jenny Abarca was cleaning up around the Daylight Donut shop, at 2613 SE 122nd Avenue, in the Midway Business District.
A middle-aged woman outside caught her eye, Abarca said – pacing back and forth outside the store.
When the woman finally came into the store, she made it clear she wasn’t there for coffee or a mid-day snack – she pointed a gun at Abarca, and demanded money from the cash register.
After the excitement ended, Jenny Abarca continued to work behind the counter at Daylight Donuts. Courtesy of KOIN Local 6
The lady bandit reportedly yelled, “’It doesn’t take that long to open a cash register,” as Abarca punched the buttons to open it.
The gun-pointing gal grabbed the money, Abarca related, then demanded more – before heading out the door, and turning to walking south, around the corner of the building.
“I don’t know why, but I decided to ‘take her down’,” Abarca told reporters – because the woman, said to be in her 30s or 40s, “didn’t appear to be all that menacing”.
When the robber’s gun-holding hand dropped this gas pipe, Abarca levered the gun out of her hand.
In the area in front of the deserted Albertson’s loading dock, the two women scuffled. With the robber’s back against the brick wall, her hand holding the gun dropped below natural gas pipes that enter the building there.
“She grabbed my hair,” Abarca said, “and I grabbed the gun, and hit her in the head. She let go.”
The plucky employee also snatched back the stolen loot.
With no weapon and no cash, the bungling robber made a dash for freedom while Abarca went in the shop to call 9-1-1. “It’s probably not something I’d do again,” she said.
“The suspect was last seen possibly getting into a tan Dodge Neon that left westbound on Division Street,” reported Portland Police Bureau Public Information Officer Sgt. Peter Simpson. “Officers arrived and checked the neighborhood with a police K-9 unit, but did not locate the suspect.”
The bandit used what Simpson described as a “realistic-looking BB gun; and is a white female in her 30s or 40s, 5’4″ to 5’7″ in height, 120 pounds, dark blue jacket with a hood, black stocking cap, dark sunglasses, and wearing blue jeans.
Hours later, Daylight Donuts was back open for business.
“The suspect may have injuries to her face or head after being hit with the gun,” Simpson suggested.
Any tips you can give police could help take this robber off the streets before she gets a real gun and tries to victimize another shop’s employees. Call them in to Robbery Detectives at (503) 823-0400.
© 2012 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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