A robber who tried to steal money from a Des Moines store fled after the cashier pelted him with cans of chewing tobacco.

The thief, wearing a black mask, flashed a knife and forced one employee of the Cigarette Outlet to the floor late Friday night. The man then demanded money from a cashier.

The cashier refused, instead hurling two cans of chewing tobacco at the robber. One can hit the man's face.

After a brief struggle with a customer who tried to tackle him, the robber fled empty-handed.