Gas-station cashier robbed, then fired

LODI, Calif. — A gas-station cashier who was held up on the job and helped track down the robber has been fired.

The company that owns the station said Cynthia Lopez lost her job because her cash drawer was $16 over its $50 limit.

"We do have policies on cash limits in registers to protect our employees' safety," Tesoro spokeswoman Sarah Simpson said. "We have a zero-tolerance policy."

Lopez, 31, was working behind the counter July 11 when a masked man put a gun on the counter and demanded the contents of the cash register.

Lopez handed over the money and some lottery tickets. She made a point of noting the man's clothing and the license-plate number on the getaway car.

Police used the number to track down and arrest two men in connection with the stickup.

The next day, Lopez lost her job.

She said a manager had told employees to keep about $100 in the cash register to make change.

"I thought I did everything correctly. I thought they should ask, 'Are you guys OK?' " Lopez said. "This is wrong. I feel betrayed."

The station manager and another clerk who was outside cleaning during the robbery also were fired.