Florida Robbery 'Darth Vader' Fail

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Man in Darth Vader costume tries to rob store, but clerk fights back - A man dressed in a Darth Vader costume who tried to rob a Florida convenience store Sunday found that “the force” – the police force, that is – was with him.

Jacob Jeremy Mercer, 32, was arrested in the attempted armed robbery of Jacksonville Beach’s 8 til Late store, police told First Coast News.

The mask-wearing thief entered the store with a pistol and demanded cash, cops said.

With no light saber around, a store clerk picked up the next best thing – a bottle of salad dressing – and hurled it at the Vader wannabe, who turned and fled, according to the Florida Times-Union. A man identified only as Ricardo told First Coast News he saw the thief leaving the store with a bloody face from where the bottle struck him. Mercer’s Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office booking photo shows cuts to his face.

“We looked at each other for a couple of seconds,” Ricardo said. “It was a little scary.”

Police said no one else was injured in the incident.