A hooded thief in Argentina interrupted his own robbery to serve an unsuspecting customer — scanning her items, taking her QR payment and handing her a receipt.
The bizarre incident took place at a shop in Cipolletti, Argentina, at around 3:30pm on September 4. CCTV footage showed two hooded men entering the store while pretending to be customers.
One allegedly stood watch near the entrance as the other slipped behind the counter, where an employee was counting the day’s takings. The robber reportedly forced the worker into the bathroom and locked her inside.
Then the theft took an unexpected turn. A woman walked in looking to make a purchase.
Rather than flee or turn her away, the masked man decided to pose as an employee. The customer selected a bottle of water from the refrigerator and asked the disguised thief for a packet of cigarettes.
He scanned both items, accepted her payment through a QR code and handed her a receipt. The woman then lit a cigarette and walked away, apparently unaware that she had just been served in the middle of a robbery.
Once she left, the two robbers allegedly took the remaining cash, a lottery till and the employee’s phone before fleeing.
Per Need To Know, it was reportedly the second time the same shop had been targeted in a matter of weeks.
Local reports said the employee later quit her job because she was frightened following the ordeal. The shop owner was at least able to see the funny side of the robber’s brief stint behind the counter.
He said:
At least during this robbery, he started serving and gave me back a few pesos by QR from the purchases.
No arrests have been reported, and the police investigation continues.
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