Owner of Elsie's Thwarts Robbery

An unidentified man tried to pinch a bag of Elsie's goodies yesterday.

As the owner of Elsie's, Phil Markell, left for the Cambridge Trust about 10 a.m. with the previous night's receipts in hand, the would-be thief snatched the money bag which Markell said contained about $100.

Markell chased the unarmed bandit down Mt. Auburn St. toward Boylston St. The thief lost his nerve, Markell said, dropped the loot on the steps of Holyoke Center, and fled.

Markell recovered the money and gave up the chase. He decided not to notify the police.