Taser-wielding shop owner: 'Don't underestimate a woman's power'

When a man entered Manjeet Aulakh's Des Moines store with a knife Monday night, demanding money, she did not hesitate to protect her business, including pointing a Taser at the robber, she said, because she relies on the store to support her family.

The robbery happened shortly before 9 p.m. at Fast Mart, 1621 University Ave., according to a Des Moines police report. Hours later, officers arrested suspect Paul Solis, 44, of Des Moines on a first-degree robbery charge.

Aulakh, who owns the convenience store with her husband, said she was at the front counter finishing paperwork when a masked man entered and started shouting at her.

"He said, 'Open the drawer, give me the money! I'm gonna stab you! I'm gonna stab you!' ... He was very aggressive and tried to scare me," Aulakh said in an interview at her store Tuesday. Security video of the robbery shown to the Register by Aulakh shows the man holding up a large knife, pointing it at her.

But the 46-year-old mother of two said she wasn't scared.

As she fumbled for a panic button to activate the store's silent security alarm, she also grabbed a Taser, which she tried to use on the robber.

When the man saw the Taser, he pulled the cash register off the counter, which broke the register and allowed him to grab the cash drawer, according to the police report and Aulakh's video.

The robber was able to run away with the cash drawer, but Aulakh followed him outside. She got his license plate number and then called the police.

But officers were already on their way after being notified by the store's security alarm, according to a police report.

When officers arrived, Aulakh was able to give them the suspect's license plate number, as well as a physical description of him and his vehicle.

Hours later, at about 1 a.m., police located Solis and identified him as the suspect, according to the police report.

Aulakh said she felt compelled to defend her store because she works hard to maintain the business to support her family.

"It's not very easy for me, but at the same time, I'm not scared of anything because I'm here to work. I'm working for my family very hard, (and) working on the night shift as a woman," she said.

While Aulakh manages Fast Mart, her husband manages their other store, a gas station in Des Moines. The couple, who moved to the U.S. from India in 1996, live in Johnston and have two children. They moved to the Des Moines area in 2009 after living in Oklahoma and Texas, Aulakh said.

Aulakh always works the night shift with one other person, she said. Her employee who was working during the robbery stayed in a back room.

Aulakh said she doesn't want anyone to think it would be easy to rob a store if they see a woman working there. "Don't underestimate a woman's power," she said. "All I can say is, we have security cameras that are working very good. ... All of our employees are very well trained in these situations."

"We shouldn't be scared of anyone; we should be prepared for any situation," she added.

Sgt. Ryan Doty, a spokesman for Des Moines police, advised any victim of armed robbery to give the suspect the money they ask for, but get a detailed description of the suspect and offer that information to investigating officers. "Clothing, physical characteristics, anything that stands out like accent, unusual hair style, tattoo or scar. See if they leave on foot or in car and what direction they leave in. Be a great witness," he said.

"No amount of money or merchandise is worth the potential for physical harm," Doty added.

After the robbery at Fast Mart, police confiscated the robber's knife, which he left at the crime scene, according to the report. Officers planned to collect security video of the robbery from the store.

Solis, the suspect, was booked into the Polk County Jail on a $100,000 bond.