MUNICE , Ind., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- A gas station clerk in Indiana thwarted a holdup by throwing a full cup of coffee at a would-be robber.

The clerk spotted a masked man entering the gas station as he was filling up a cup of coffee and managed to fling the hot beverage directly at his face.


The incident, which lasted less than five seconds, was captured on a security camera and shows the robber exit the store after being struck by the coffee.

While some commend the clerk for his bravery, Brian Campbell of the Munice Police Department said that reacting in such a way is not the best course of action during a robbery.

"I would caution anyone against taking action. If someone is robbing them, the best thing to do is to comply with their demands, especially for money," Campbell told Fox 59. "It's not worth being injured or possibly killed over."

The clerk's cousin and co-worker defended his actions, explaining why he felt the need to protect the store at all costs.

"Because we work hard for the money. We work like every day, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, like every day," he told ABC 6. "We don't take any day off. Like 365 days a year. That's why."