Police: Steak stops robber

A Lincoln cook gave a would-be robber a taste of carne asada. But the knife-wielding thief may not be back for seconds.

The thief pulled a knife on one of the restaurant cook’s co-workers, held it to her throat and demanded money, police said.

The quick-thinking cook flung the still-cooking flank steak at the would-be robber, hitting him. The knife-wielding man, stunned, dropped the knife and fled.

The incident happened about 3 a.m. Friday at D’Leon’s Mexican Food, 2140 W. O St. The restaurant is open 24 hours a day.

Two men had walked up to the restaurant’s drive-through window and ordered drinks. When an employee opened the window to give them the drinks, one of the men grabbed the employee and threatened her with the knife, Capt. Anthony Butler said. That’s when he was served.

As of Friday evening, no arrests had been made.

— Susan Szalewski