A man who robbed the 7-Eleven on Carolina Road Monday morning took a customer’s keys and cell phone before going inside – and returned them on his way out, said a city spokeswoman.

At 3:15 a.m. Monday, a black male with a white cloth over his face took the items from a customer in the parking lot, said Debbie George, a city spokeswoman. George surmised the robber might have been trying to prevent the customer from calling 911 or going to get help, she said.

The man then went inside and demanded cash from the register with a white cloth over his hand and what appeared to be a gun underneath, she said. He got away with “a couple hundred dollars,” George said. He then returned the customer’s cell phone and keys on the way out.

Anyone with information on this crime can call 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers never have to give their names or testify in court, and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.