Update: Kids Help Foil Gas Station Robbery

A group of children playing outside after school ended up in a real life game of "Cops and Robbers" when they helped police foil an armed robbery in North Massapequa Wednesday afternoon, police sources said.

The five children were playing near the Getty Gas station at 975 North Broadway when they saw the robber try to flee the scene.

"A guy ran out of the gas station," said a 10 year-old boy who saw the suspect. The names of the children are being withheld by Patch.com at the request of their parents.

"The owner ran out and said, 'Go get the license plate!'" The boy said. "We got the license plate and then we told the cops."

A mother had been supervising the children and she called 911 and gave the dispatcher the license plate number.

A short time later, cops arrested Sivorn Edwards, 42, of Jamaica Queens. Edwards allegedly displayed a gun and  made off with $60. The driver of the getaway truck, Ruth Luke, 48, of Springfield Gardens was also busted after cops stopped the vehicle in Hempstead. Both were charged with robbery

The mother, who also asked that her name be withheld, said she positively identified Edwards and Luke.

"I'm so sick by the prospect that the guy was armed, but you have to give credit to the police, they got him right away,"  she said.

But they couldn't have done it without the help of the young heroes. One 6-year-old boy had a complete description of the suspect.

"He had black sunglasses, black boots and he had a black shirt on," the boy said.

When asked if he was scared, he emphatically shook his head "No," and declared "I want to be a policeman when I grow up."

His mom was justifiably proud.

"I'm a little nervous because he's so little, but he knew all the facts," she said. "He just went and gave them all the details." 

"The good guys won today," said Bobby Pine, 46, who lives on the block. "They did a good job. A lot of people might not have done it. They wouldn't have wanted to get involved."

For now the children are just hoping the gas station owner will give them free candy.  

"It's a good thing grandpa gave me that badge," said the 6-year-old, whose grandfather is an ex-military policeman.