MPD: Man robs Exxon of $4K, leaves car keys in store

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man was arrested after police say he was part of a group that stole $4,000 from a Whitehaven Exxon on Sunday — but the driver couldn’t make a getaway because he accidentally left his car keys in the store.

Jasper Wilkins is charged with a robbery act in concert. He is held in jail on a $50,000 bond.

A gas station employee locked Wilkins inside the store when he came back in, demanding his keys.

According to police, three unknown male suspects in a silver Mazda parked in front of the Exxon gas station at 4679 Elvis Presley Boulevard. Police say the men stayed in the car for 30 minutes watching the employees and customer activity in the store.

Two of the suspects then went inside the gas station and walked to the beverage station, which is next to the front counter and secured by a locked door.

As an employee was walking past the suspects, police say they grabbed him and opened the secured door leading to the cash register area. The victim says he told them, “Don’t do this” as he attempted to stop them from going inside the secured area.

MPD says one of the suspects picked up the victim and placed him in the office while the other suspect entered the secured cash register area.

The suspects reportedly took a cash box containing around $4,000 in cash before leaving the store and getting back in the Mazda.

However, police say the suspects could not start the car because they left the keys inside the gas station.

At that time, two of the suspects ran away from the scene on foot. A third suspect armed with a wrench went inside the gas station, demanding the key to the vehicle back.

The victim refused to return the suspect’s car keys, which he found on the floor, police say. Instead, he locked the suspect inside the gas station and called the police.

Officers took the suspect into custody when they arrived.

Wilkins is set to make a court appearance on Tuesday morning.

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