Police: Rueful gas station robber returns money

Surveillance footage allegedly shows Cyle Warren Abbott Jr. robbing a gas station in Eureka on Oct. 26, 2014. Police said he returned to the business to give back the money and apologize. He was arrested. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Cyle Warren Abbott Jr. robbing a gas station in Eureka on Oct. 26, 2014. Police said he returned to the business to give back the money and apologize. He was arrested. Photo: Courtesy Eureka Police Photo: Courtesy Eureka Police Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Police: Rueful gas station robber returns money 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

A Eureka man robbed a gas station early Sunday morning, only to return to the scene three hours later to return the stolen cash and apologize, police said.

The suspect, 23-year-old Cyle Warren Abbott Jr., allegedly entered a gas station on Broadway Avenue at 6:14 a.m. with what appeared to be a black pistol. He demanded money from the clerk, police said, and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash — plus two bottles of beer.

Officers arrived on the scene just minutes later, but Abbott was nowhere to be found. That is, until around 9 a.m., when the gas station’s assistant manager called police to report that the suspect was back and trying to return the stolen money.

Abbott waited in the bathroom until police arrived to take him into custody, officials said.

Abbott told officers that the weapon he had used in the robbery was a loaded BB gun. He apologized to the employees and officers, police said, reportedly telling them he was trying to turn his life around. He said he had stolen the money in an effort to leave town for a fresh start.

Abbott was booked on suspicion of robbery at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, where his bail was set at $50,000. According to officials, Abbott tried to direct police to where he had discarded the gun, but officers couldn’t find it.

Libby Rainey is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: lrainey@sfchronicle.com