Police say a man used a potato to pretend he had a gun while trying to rob a Rhode Island business.  

WPRI-TV reports that the man entered a convenience store with a potato and shouted: “Give me the money.” A police report says the store manager chased him off with a baseball bat. Police provided a description of the suspect. They say officers later went to a laundromat where an employee told them a man fitting the description came in carrying a potato and yelled: “I need the money.”

The TV station reports that the employee gave the man a $20 bill from a decoy cash register, and he left.

Source: WPRI-TV, http://www.wpri.com

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You Say Potato, Part 2

Providence police have arrested a man who allegedly wielded a potato disguised as a gun during another robbery attempt.

WPRI-TV reports 34-year-old Gary Deming of Cranston was arrested on robbery charges. Authorities say he pretended he had a gun when he demanded money from a convenience store and dry cleaner April 21.

During his first attempted potato-gun robbery, the convenience store manager chased Denning off with a baseball bat. In his second attempted robbery, a dry cleaner employee gave him a fake $20 from a decoy register.

The station reports Deming is also accused of breaking into his sister’s home on the same day as the alleged potato incidents. She told police he took a purse, her debit card and $100 in cash.

A telephone listing for Deming couldn’t be found. It’s not clear if he has legal representation.

Sources: WPRI-TV, http://www.wpri.com and  www.necn.com