A Brampton convenience store owner fought back against a would-be thief, avoiding being robbed during what police allege was a 24-hour crime spree.

But his wife wishes he would have just handed over the cash.

"He has to give them money," Grace Lee said inside the couple's store, Park's Convenience, Tuesday afternoon. "Yeah, it's better."

Surveillance video shows a young man entering the store at McMurchy Avenue North and Queen Street West just before 10:45 p.m. on July 18.

Si "Tom" Lee, 66, was working behind the counter.

The young man grabs a pack of candy, goes to the counter and begins to pay. As Lee is at the cash register, the man pulls out some sort of tool and appears to demand cash.

Lee had other plans.

He grabbed for the tool, came around the counter and began pushing the man toward the exit, ultimately kicking him out the door before chasing him, according to Lee and his wife, to a waiting taxi.

According to Lee, he opened the taxi door and saw the young man and another young man in the back. He said the two young men hopped out of the cab and fled on foot.

Peel Regional Police allege the pair had already robbed five gas stations and that after fleeing the convenience store, they would rob one more before being arrested.

"There were six gas stations and one convenience store involved in this rash," Peel Regional Police Const. Lori Murphy said. "Several did take place in a short amount of time."

Police allege the heists began at 12:25 a.m. on July 18 at an Esso station on Bovaird Drive and ended at a Petro-Canada at 11:20 p.m.

"The arrest did take place a short time after the last offence," Murphy said.

Asked what she thought of Lee fighting off the would-be robber, Murphy said, "Peel Regional Police would encourage a reporting of the incident rather than engaging in suspect activity."

Ronald Leisander, 26, and Peter Campbell, 27, were each charged with seven counts of robbery.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Peel Regional Police Central Robbery Bureau at 905-453-2121 ext. 3410 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 (TIPS).