Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Police in Ohio said they arrested a man accused of attempting to rob a convenience store with a "rifle" that was an obvious homemade fake.
The Akron Police Department said Jeffrey Derringer, 48, walked into the Circle K store about 2 p.m. on Christmas Day and held what initially appeared to be a rifle over his head.
Derringer, who was a frequent customer known to employees, ordered employees and customers to the floor before demanding money from the cash register, police said.
One employee fled to a back room and another soon noticed Derringer's "rifle" was an obvious fake composed of furniture pieces, a spring and a pipe that had been taped together.
The employee confronted Derringer, who fled the store, but the worker and three customers followed him and were able to hold him until police arrived.
Derringer was booked into the Summit County Jail on an aggravated robbery charge.
