Customer Credited With Apprehending Gas Station Robbery Suspect

WOBURN, MA -- A customer and clerk at McSheffrey's Mobil Station on main Street in Woburn are being credited with foiling an unarmed robbery attempt. Police arrested Shane Ripley-O'Neil, 21, of Woburn after responding to the call and finding him pinned to the floor by the customer and clerk. Both the customer and Ripley-O'Neil sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.

According to the Daily Times Chronicle, which first reported this story, police responded to the call at 5:38 pm on Tuesday. The clerk told police that Ripley-O'Neil entered the store with a blue bandanna partially covering his face, hurdled over the counter and demanded money. The clerk had been talking with the bystander, who is a regular customer at the gas station.

The customer began to fight with Ripley-O'Neil. After an extended struggle in which the cash register was upended and merchandise displays were toppled, the clerk and customer were able to pin Ripley-O'Neil to the floor and call police.

Ripley-O'Neil, who allegedly tried to blind the bystander and, at one point, bit his finger, was charged with unarmed robbery, two counts of assault and battery, one count of larceny under $250, and destruction of property.

For more on this story, see the Daily Times Chronicle. Subscribe to Woburn Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).