Police: Man threatened store clerk with stolen ax

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>> Anyone who may know the suspect's identity or whereabouts or has information about the crime is urged to call McAllen Crime Stoppers at (956) 687-8477.

McALLEN — An ax-wielding robber remains at large after police say he stole the bladed implement from a home improvement store and then brandished it at a clerk who confronted him in the parking lot moments later.

Officers are asking for the public's help to identify the man, who is wanted for the aggravated robbery at The Home Depot, 801 W. Trenton Road. The incident occurred about 9:30 a.m. Friday, police said.

The suspect, a Hispanic man who was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, allegedly took a power tool from the store in addition to the ax.

A Home Depot employee told police he confronted the man in the parking lot after watching him leave the store with the unpaid merchandise, said Sgt. Joel Morales, a McAllen police spokesman. The robber allegedly responded by raising the ax in a threatening manner.

The man was last seen leaving the parking lot in a green Chevrolet pickup truck. Officers have a partial license plate number from the vehicle but would not release that information.

The robber was captured on the store's surveillance camera as he left the building.

If he is arrested and charged with aggravated robbery, he could face up to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine in the event he is convicted.

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Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.