A suspected shrimp bandit is behind bars after he allegedly attacked workers at a grocery store in Reading.
Jose Ayala-Nunes, 44, is charged with retail theft, aggravated assault and other offenses.
The bizarre incident began around 12:30 p.m. Thursday inside the Price-Rite on North Sixth Street.
Police said Ayala-Nunes attempted to walk out of the store with $40 worth of shrimp hidden beneath his coat.
An employee stopped him, at which point the suspect handed over the stolen seafood and tried to flee, police said.
But when workers told Ayala-Nunes that they were going to call police, Ayala-Nunes allegedly pulled out a box cutter and started swinging.
Together, the employees managed to grab the box cutter from the suspect and hold him down until officers arrived, police said. One worker's hand was cut.
"Too crazy for me," said customer Milagros Lazu. "It's scary."
"If it was diapers, I'd kind of feel more sorry for the [suspect]," said Denise Simmon. "But since it was shrimp, it kind of feels like it was more just for him."
69 News spoke with a friend of Ayala-Nunes near the suspect's residence on North 10th Street.
The friend, Luis Gonzalez, told 69 News that Ayala-Nunes is going through hard times.
"Yeah, a lot of crisis right now," Gonzalez said. "He just needs a little help. That's it. Maybe he'll get it now."
Price-Rite spokeswoman Santina Stankevich said she would not comment on the incident, but that employee safety is a top company priority.
Store workers had no comment.
Ayala-Nunes is in the Berks County Jail on $25,000 bail.
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