Watch the video: Armed robber hits Swansea gas station

Swansea police are looking for a woman who rushed into a convenience store, leapt over the counter and pointed a long gun at the clerk, demanding money.

According to Deputy Chief Craig Coughlin, there was no one besides the clerk in the BP Amoco station located at 1624 North Belt West when the suspect walked in at about 5:15 a.m.

“She jumped over the counter into the cashier’s area, got what she wanted and left,” Coughlin said. “She wasn’t in there very long.”

The woman held what appeared to be a pump action single-barreled shotgun — or maybe a rifle — with one hand, pointing it in the direction of the clerk.

The woman was last seen fleeing on foot. Officers got to the scene quickly but, reportedly, just missed her. She got away with an undisclosed amount of money.

Coughlin said police are pursuing several leads.

It’s unusual for a woman to commit such an aggressive robbery, Coughlin said. They’ve been in contact with other departments. But, so far, police have been unable to connect the Swansea suspect with any similar crimes that have occurred recently in the metro-east.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned female whose race is unknown. She is tall with an athletic build and was wearing a black tank top with black pants and red boots. She also wore a blue and white checkered jacket with a hood.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Swansea Police Department at 618-233-8114 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 10:29 AM with the headline "Watch the video: Armed robber hits Swansea gas station."