When a knife-wielding man came for the third time in three weeks to rob the northeast store, he assured shopkeeper Salim Dewani he wouldn't be back.

But Dewani, who quickly offered up a small sum of cash after having a large kitchen knife brandished at him on Wednesday afternoon, was astounded the robber came calling so often just metres away from a police station.

And he invited the brazen intruder back.

"I can't believe that person would have that kind of courage -- he actually wants to get into trouble," said Dewani, 37, who sells Bollywood videos at Temple Dry Cleaning and Alterations, 5401 Temple Dr. N.E.

"Next time he comes he better talk to me -- I can help him get arrested."

Dewani and his in-laws have no doubt the same man also invaded their business Oct. 19 and Oct. 29, always in the early afternoon with the same knife.

"The last time, he was frustrated getting all the coins, he was a desperate guy," said Dewani. "He knows there's no big money here."

But the robberies have struck fear in his mother-in-law, in her 50s, who was present for all three heists.

The frightened woman -- who wouldn't give her name -- said: "He said, 'If you complain to police, I'll send my friends.' ".

The crook is either extremely brazen or clueless about the presence of the District 5 police station, only separated from Dewani's shop by a pub, said Staff Sgt. Keith Cain.

"It's a little surprising -- maybe he doesn't know there's a police station here," said Cain.

"It's not all that well-marked."

The victimized shopowners alerted police by calling 911.

The suspect's described as possibly East Indian, 30 to 40 years old, 5-foot-8, and about 150 lb.

He was clad in a grey hoodie and a white toque with a dark-coloured pattern on top, while his face sported acne scars.

BILL.KAUFMANN@SUNMEDIA.CA