7-Eleven burglary suspect caught by sheriff's investigators

COEUR d'ALENE - A 29-year-old Coeur d'Alene man was arrested on Saturday in connection with the alleged robbery of a 7-Eleven employee outside the Hayden store last week, the sheriff's department said.

Timothy W. Allen was taken into custody without incident at 4:30 p.m. at his residence on Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive by Kootenai County sheriff's investigators.

Allen was booked at the Kootenai County jail on charges of robbery, grand theft and aggravated battery, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department said in a press release.

A female employee of the store said she was struck from behind as she walked to her vehicle last Wednesday evening and her purse was snatched. The suspect fled on foot. The store is at 9577 N. Government Way.

The employee was taken to Kootenai Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

Allen has previously been booked at the Kootenai County jail for inattentive driving on March 17, 2009; and for burglary, shoplifting, probation violation and two outstanding warrants from Benewah County on Dec. 9, 2010.