Indian-origin man hatched plan to rob his own gas station

An Indian-origin owner of a gas station in the US has been charged with planning a robbery in his business by hiring a man for USD 1,500 and asking him to use a toy gun.
Pareshbhai R Patel, 40, asked another man to use a toy gun to rob his Shell gas station in Sandwich Town in Massachusetts in exchange for USD 1,500.
Police thwarted his robbery-for-hire plot, which was supposed to happen within the next few days, by secretly recording him, the Daily Chronicle reported yesterday citing court records.
Patel is charged with solicitation to commit an armed robbery and solicitation to commit an aggravated robbery.

The most serious charge, solicitation to commit an armed robbery, is punishable by four to 15 years in prison.
He was released from DeKalb County Jail yesterday after posting USD 5,000 bail.

Specific details of the crime, including when it would happen, what would be said, and how the individual would be paid, were recorded using special equipment.
Patel admitted to planning the robbery during questioning by police, according to the court records.
He is scheduled to appear in court on October 27.
It is yet not clear why Patel hatched the plan for robbery at his own gas station.