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Citizens pin woman to the ground after she attempts to rob West Allis business
Citizens pin woman to the ground after she attempts to rob West Allis business
WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- A West Allis business owner is breathing a sigh of relief today and thanking the many people who came to her aid, during a frightening incident Friday afternoon.
Sometimes the best of humanity shows up when you're least expecting it.
"I had to make a decision because in the two seconds we both could have been dead," said Doris Wittenburg, Owner of Going To the Dogs.
Owner of Going To the Dogs, Doris Wittenburg, was tending to an elderly customer's pooch as the man watched nearby. That's when a 49-year-old woman walked in.
"She goes, oh I don't have a dog I've got three cats and I said, no I'm sorry I don't do cats," said Wittenburg.
Wittenburg says there was nothing alarming about the woman until she suddenly bent down.
"When she stood up she now had a revolver in her hand and said, 'I want all the money out of your cash register and I want it now'," said Wittenburg.
The woman threatened to shoot Wittenburg if she didn't comply -- so Wittenburg gave her what she wanted.
"Threw it down on the counter," said Wittenburg.
Then Wittenburg bolted for the door to call for help.
"There's somebody robbing me call 911," said Wittenburg.
The would-be robber grabbed the money and charged the door, and that's when the elderly customer decided he'd seen enough.
"By the time she's right here and I'm right here, he's walloping her with his cane and he hit her about three times," said Wittenburg.
The woman did manage to punch the elderly man in the face, but that's when two men from the nearby vacuum store came running and grabbed her from behind. Another passerby helped hold her down.
Wittenburg grabbed the gun and police showed up shortly after.
"I want to express my gratitude to all those people that jumped in. Without those people I think she would have just got away or if we would have got hurt, nobody would have known. So you know everybody was a hero," said Wittenburg.
Police have not released the woman's name yet but she was arrested and FOX6 News is told this case is being referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office for charges.