TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- A mother and her 6-month old girl escaped unhurt after she calmed down a knife-wielding robber with a glass of iced tea and a chat, Tokyo police said Wednesday.

The 30-year-old housewife was in the hallway of her apartment building Monday when a man pressed a knife to her back and demanded money, police said.

When the woman said she did not have any cash on her, the man pushed her and her baby into her apartment.

To buy herself time to escape, the woman gave the robber a cup of iced wheat tea to calm him down on what was a hot summer day, police said.

The 43-year-old man put away his knife and began to tell her how he lost money gambling and its effect on his life and family.

The housewife handed the man about $100 (10,000 yen), ran outside, and called for help.

The man ran off with the cash, but officers caught him the next day.

As officers whisked him away to jail, the man told them he was sorry for what he did to the housewife, police said.