Masked man steals tip jar from Modesto smoke shop

A masked man stole a tip jar from a smoke shop on Yosemite Boulevard, then tried to get into a bystander’s car to escape Wednesday night, Modesto police said.

The incident occurred about 7:30 p.m. at Smoke City in the 1600 block of Yosemite Boulevard.

A witness saw the man come out of the the business with a white bandanna over his face and carrying what she thought was a gun concealed by a sweatshirt, said Sgt. David Chamberlain.

The witness flagged down an officer, who saw the man run north on Severin Avenue with one of the Smoke City employees chasing him.

The man then opened the door of a bystander’s white car and tried to get in as the officer arrived and drew his gun, ordering the man and the bystander to put their hands in the air.

The driver of the white car obliged but the man ran.

The officer chased after him, apprehending the man about a block away.

The tip jar was never recovered; officers believe the bystander drove off with it.

Ryan Ashlock, 25, was arrested on suspicion of attempted carjacking, theft, wearing a disguise to avoid arrest and resisting arrest.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Masked man steals tip jar from Modesto smoke shop."