6:27 am EST February 11, 2009

CAPE HAZE, Fla. (AP) -- Authorities said they've arrested an Englewood East man who apparently forgot to fill up when he was robbing a gas station.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said 23-year-old David Eric Hampton used a Bowie knife to rob a Cape Haze gas station early Sunday. Deputies say Hampton pulled the 12-inch blade and demanded money. But when he left, a customer followed him and called 911.

While deputies were looking for signs of the robber, a newspaper carrier told them that a man in a car matching the one from the robbery had run out of gas nearby.

Hampton was arrested several hours after the robbery and charged with robbery with a weapon and loitering/prowling. He was released Monday on $10,500 bail.