Robber scared off by victim with simple tactic, say Pa. police

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. -- Authorities say an elderly woman being robbed in a Pennsylvania parking lot shouted, "There's the police!" and the spooked suspect dropped his gun and ran away.

Chief James Borza says Punxsutawney police are still searching for the robber, who approached the woman Friday morning outside a store in the Punxy Plaza.

Borza says the man got nervous when the woman yelled. He dropped the gun, and she kicked it underneath a vehicle. The panicked suspect ran away, he said.

Police say the weapon looked like a real pistol but fired only BBs.

Police are hoping someone who witnessed the attempted robbery might be able to identify the man.

(And we thought Punxsutwaney was known only for "Punxsutawney Phil" -- the groundhog of weather-forecasting fame.)