Des Plaines police investigate convenience store robbery

Des Plaines police are investigating the strong-arm robbery of a convenience store early Thursday in which a man stole about $50 cash after scuffling with a clerk.

According to police, a white man with an unshaven face and wearing a white, hooded sweatshirt with the hood up entered the store in the 1500 block of Rand Road at about 12:53 a.m. Thursday and used a debit card to purchase a lighter and get $10 cash back.

When the clerk handed the man the $10, the robber demanded more money from the cash register, police said. After the clerk refused, the man walked around the counter, leading the clerk to remove the money from the register to keep it from the robber. A physical altercation ensued, and the offender grabbed about $50 cash then left the store heading northbound in a low-riding black vehicle.