Clerk Laughs Away Robber in Pluto Mask

Clerk Laughs Away Robber in Pluto Mask

Mar 10, 7:40 PM (ET)

CRANBERRY, Pa. (AP) - The would-be robber wanted to inspire fear, but his choice of a Disney character mask to conceal his features provoked only giggles from a convenience store clerk.

Cranberry police said a clerk at Gordon's Mini Market burst into laughter when the person wearing a Pluto mask walked into the store about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The clerk was laughing so hard he didn't comply with the robber's demand to turn over the cash register money - so the frustrated robber left the store, police said.

Police Sgt. Dave Kovach said the clerk's response was ill-advised and dangerous, even if it foiled the robbery.

"Pluto could have been a strung-out heroin addict," Kovach said. "You never know."

Pluto drove away in a car, but not before the clerk noticed that he was 6-foot-2 and appeared to be white under the mask. Police believe he's about 20 years old and weighs about 170 pounds.