Robbery suspect tied up at gas station

CLEVELAND, Ohio (CNN/WOIO) - Breaking up a robbery is never a safe thing to do. But the employees at a Cleveland gas station didn't think twice about coming to the aid of a customer.

As seen in the surveillance video with this story, a man in a blue shirt asked a customer for a light but then tried to grab her purse.

Station employee Lexanna Sullivan ran out of the station booth to help another patron apprehend the suspect.

"I just sat down on him," said Sullivan. "He was saying, 'please I can't breathe.' I said 'you should have thought about that when you tried to rob that lady.'"

Employees used a phone cord and some yellow caution tape to tie up the would-be thief.

"If you come to my station I want you to feel safe, and know that if anything happens, the people that own the place are on your side," said station owner Linda Green.

The suspect has been charged with aggravated robbery.