WEST SPRINGFIELD - Israel Cruz and Daniel Figueroa apparently stop at the Sunoco gas station at 518 Memorial Ave. pretty often, and they're chatty enough that they told a clerk where they live. On Saturday morning, though, police say their chatting was their undoing.
Cruz, 37, of West School Street in West Springfield, and Figueroa, 35, of Bancroft Street in Springfield, are accused of trying to rob the very same clerk at knifepoint around 3:30 a.m. Court documents state Cruz was wearing a mask and Figueroa was covering part of his face with a bandana, but the clerk told them she recognized them, so they walked out without getting any money.
An officer working a detail on the Memorial Bridge stopped two men matching the alleged robbers' description that afternoon. Cruz and Figueroa were arrested when the clerk was brought to the scene and identified them.
Each faces a charge of attempting to commit a crime and is due back in Springfield District Court on Sept. 14. Cruz's bail on a pending case was revoked at his arraignment Monday, and both suspects' bail was set at $10,000 cash or $100,000 surety.
In addition to the charge from Saturday's attempted robbery, Cruz is accused of stealing $225 from the store just three days earlier when the same clerk put it down to help another customer. He's charged with larceny for that incident.