A Cape Coral man was charged in connection with the armed hold up of a local gas station earlier this month, after police received an anonymous tip from Crimestoppers alleging the man’s involvement.

James Alan Burns, 29, of 808 Miramar Street, Apt. 3, was charged Thursday with robbery with a firearm after reportedly admitting to police he held up a Circle K at 533 E. Cape Coral Parkway on Sept. 2 to to support a drug habit.

The robbery happened at about 3:53 a.m., when a clerk said a man asked for cigarettes and for the clerk to open the register and give him money, according to a police report.

The clerk asked the man if he was serious, to which he replied “You (expletive) right I’m serious,” the clerk told police.

The clerk asked a witness, who was standing in line behind the robber, if he was with the man. The witness said no, and the robber then said “He is not with me, give me the (expletive) money,” according to the report.

The robber told the clerk he had a gun, and the witness said he saw the handle of a gun in the man’s hood front pouch.

The clerk told police he opened the register and pushed a hold-up button.

The robber took less than $100 in cash and fled south on Tarpon Court.

The witness called 911, and both the witness and the gas station clerk gave sworn written statements to police.

Surveillance footage of the incident was also placed into police evidence.

Burns was taken to the Lee County Jail where he remained Friday night on $50,000 bond.