IHOP Employees Chase Down Robbery Suspect

Employees chased down a customer police say stole a bank bag from the clerk. They held him until police arrived.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: August 18, 2009

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Pensacola, FL - An IHOP customer came hungry and left happy, but not because of the food. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office says Anthony Mata left the restaurant with a bag full of cash.

According to deputies, Anthony Mata walked into the IHOP at 6707 Pensacola Blvd Monday night to use the restroom. When he walked out of the restroom, Mata saw the clerk was putting money into a bank bag. Mata walked up, reached across the counter, grabbed the bag and ran out the door.

Several IHOP employees chased Mata who ran into the Rave Theater. The IHOP employees followed Mata inside and took him down. They held him until deputies arrived.

It turns out Mata, who's from Santa Fe, New Mexico, was wanted in California for burglary, theft and narcotics. He's now charged with "robbery-by sudden snatching.” Mata was booked into the Escambia County Jail on $5,000 bond. He will be extradited to California after the robbery case in Florida is wrapped up.