A University City man who was being robbed was able to alert a tow truck driver, who called police about 1:34 p.m. Tuesday at 7200 Amherst Ave.

The robbers ran off, but officers arrested them later, according to a University City Police report.

Jared Tate, 20, and Earl F. Farmer, 22, both of the city of St. Louis, were charged Tuesday with first-degree attempted robbery and armed criminal action. Farmer also was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun.

University City Police said the two men approached the victim near 7200 Amherst Ave. in U City, holding handguns and demanded money. The resident had only a few dollars on him, so Farmer then put his hands on the man and instructed him to take them to his home, police said.

During the walk to the U City resident’s home, the man alerted a tow truck driver to the robbery and the men ran away. Police said they later recovered the handguns.

Bail was set at $100,000 each, cash only, for Tate and Farmer. They were being held Friday in St. Louis County jail.

For more crime information on University City Patch, see the following articles:

• Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Witness in U City
• Second Man Charged in Cell Phone Robbery
• Return to Crime Scene Earns Man Theft Charge, Police Say