New Westminster police made a surprise arrest early Saturday morning after a man cut ahead of them in line at Starbucks and then allegedly attempted to rob the coffee shop.

On July 24, two police officers were heading from the station to the coffee shop across the street, when they had a brief conversation with the 43-year-old New Westminster man standing outside.

According to police, a short time later the officers were inside the coffee shop ordering at the till when the man they had spoken with outside walked directly up to the till, threw a drink at the employee and demanded cash.

"[The officers] looked at each other in astonishment that someone would attempt that with two uniform officers in the room," Sgt. Bruce Carrie told ctvbc.ca.

The man was quickly taken to the ground and arrested.

He is to appear in court Monday morning facing charges of attempted robbery and assault.