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Owner of Family Thrift Store in Portsmouth captures would-be robber

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Portsmouth, Va. – Police arrested a man for robbing the Family Thrift Store on Twin Pines Road in Portsmouth Wednesday evening after the owner chased him down.

Police say 33-year-old Vernon Lee Cherry III entered the store around 5:14 pm asking to make change.

After being told by an employee that a purchase had to be made in order to receive change, police say Cherry grabbed the cash register drawer and pointed an object which was concealed under his shirt at the employee. 

Cherry took an undisclosed amount of money from the register and then ran.  The store’s owner ran after Cherry and detained him until police arrived. 

Cherry was charged with robbery and possession of a controlled substance.