A woman leaving work at the Erie Insurance Arena was confronted Dec. 23 by a man who robbed her at knifepoint of her wallet and cellphone.
But thanks to quick action by some fellow employees and with the assistance of Erie Insurance security cameras, the accused culprit was quickly caught, according to Erie police.
The accused robber was taken into custody in the 700 block of Holland Street minutes after the robbery was reported after he was found hiding behind a building, Erie police reported. The man was taken to the hospital and will face charges including robbery, terroristic threats and possessing instruments of crime, according to Erie police and city police arrest records.
Charges against the man were not docketed, and he had not been arraigned as of Dec. 24.
More: Erie man accused of setting up armed robbery sentenced to prison term
Confrontation outside work
The robbery was reported Dec. 23 at about 1:15 p.m. According to police, a woman was leaving work at Erie Insurance Arena and was walking to her car when the man approached her while holding a knife and demanded her wallet and other property. The man fled with the woman’s wallet and cellphone as two of the woman’s co-workers chased after him, police reported.
Police also reviewed surveillance video from Erie Insurance security cameras and were able to quickly locate the suspect, Police Chief Dan Spizarny said Dec. 24.
The woman was not injured in the robbery.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA police catch suspect who used knife to rob woman leaving work