COVINGTON — Police were dumbfounded. A man who robbed an Ameri-Stop Food Mart on Wednesday night stopped by the convenience store half an hour early to warn the clerk he was going to rob the place. And the clerk didn't call police to report the warning, said Covington police spokesman Jim Liles.

        “He told me he would stand at the corner and if he saw a cop car he would shoot me,” said clerk James Phillips, who reported back to work Thursday.

        “I could tell there was something in his waistband. I didn't want to chance it.”

        The robber told Mr. Phillips to tell the other employees to leave and to prepare to get robbed in five min utes. The robber stood outside the store at 221 W. 12th St. for 20-30 minutes and tapped on the window when Mr. Phillips walked near the phone.

        “I think he was waiting for some customers to buy stuff so there would be more money in the register,” Mr. Phillips said.

        The clerk did as he was told and shortly before 11 p.m., the man walked back into the store to rob it.

        The robber, clad in a No.11 Barry Larkin jersey, got away with $200 to $300 in cash.

        Mr. Liles, who says he can't believe the clerk didn't just lock the door, said police are investigating.

        Mr. Phillips of Mount Healthy said worse has happened to him.

        “I've nearly got beaten up in the lot one time, and I've been robbed twice before.”

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