ST. CHARLES • A dry cleaning clerk stabbed a robber in the hand with a seam ripper, then chased him down the block before he got away Wednesday afternoon.

Police said a man came into First Capitol Cleaners, 1025 First Capitol Drive, about 1:10 p.m., told the clerk he had a gun under his hooded sweatshirt and demanded that she hand over money from the register. When he reached over the counter, instead of giving him the money, the clerk stabbed the man in the back of his hand with the seam ripper. The tool, used to undo stitching, has a forked head — one side of which is flattened like a blade.

The man then ran east on First Capitol, and the clerk, who turned 45 Wednesday, chased him to the end of the block, St. Charles Police Lt. Mike Akers said. Four St. Charles public schools were locked down for about 90 minutes while police searched for the man with a helicopter and a canine unit.

The clerk declined to comment.

"She's pretty shaken up," Akers said.

Anyone with information is asked to call St. Charles police at 636-949-3250 or St. Charles CrimeStoppers at 636-949-3333.