Hot mocha saves manager from burglar

Anthony Skeens

The Triplicate

August 06, 2010 10:36 am

An attempted burglary at the Englund Marine and Industrial Supply earlier this week resulted in coffee thrown on the face of the suspect.

Chris Hegnes, manager of the supply store, was going into work  at 5 a.m. on Monday when he encountered a man wearing a mask charging at him with a hammer.

“I hit him in the face with a hot mocha,” said Hegnes.

He then turned around and began running away while the hammer-wielding man pursued him. 

After a few strides the man turned around and ran into a recreational vehicle park behind the store, Hegnes said.

The man had apparently spent the weekend trying to break into a safe using the store’s hardware tools.

“He basically hid himself before we locked up Saturday night,” said Hegnes.

The man had access to the store until Monday morning, when Hegnes discovered him.

“He didn’t really get away with much, other than damaging a bunch of tools,” said Hegnes.

There are no leads in the case but the Sheriff’s Office is still processing evidence, a sheriff’s spokesperson said.