Pizza Shop Owner Scares Off Robbery Suspects

Two New Haven men were arrested on Friday night, accused of robbing a pizza restaurant at gunpoint.

According to police, Carmine Watkins, 18, and his 17-year-old accomplice, both of Rock Creek Road, entered Pizza Heaven II at 410 Blake Street around 11:45 p.m. on Friday, wearing masks and wielding a pellet rifle.

They took money from the cash register and from the pocket of restaurant owner Erdol Sahin, police said.

One took Sahin into his office and asked for more money, at which point Sahin took out a gun of his own. The suspect seemed surprised and dropped his rifle, police said.

"He saw me coming out from the office, so he think  we had something in the office," said  Sahin. " When he sees the gun, he throws himself back and I realize he has a fake gun."

Sahin picked up the suspect's rifle and chased the teens out of the restaurant and down the street.

He lost their trail, but police apprehended the teens outside one of their homes on Rock Creek Road, authorities said.

"He run out and slammed into the back door and I grabbed his gun and try to shoot it or hit him with his gun," said Sahin.

The two suspects were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny.

"I hope that other people… who are thinking to rob somebody, somewhere, they should think twice before they do something stupid like that," Sahin said.

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