A man was robbed outside a Walmart store in Plymouth. Here's what happened next

PLYMOUTH − Town leaders, business owners and police officers gave about $3,000 in donated cash and checks to a Walmart employee who was robbed outside the store by three men.

Surveillance video shows the employee, Stephen Galanzi, 28, surrounded by the men two weeks ago. They robbed him of $150, WCVB reported.

Police said the three men backed Galanzi into a corner near the entrance of the Walmart Supercenter and accosted him while he was waiting for a ride home. He said he felt threatened.

"Three guys were aggressively asking me for money despite me saying no," Galanzi said. "They made it sound like it was a donation, even though they were very close and kept going at it."

Panhandling is not illegal, but what happened to Galanzi crossed the line, Plymouth Police Chief Dana Flynn said.

"He felt threatened. That brings it up to a felony," Flynn said.

Galanzi has autism and police wonder if the men may have taken advantage of him. Police are searching for the robbers.

"Panhandling is legal until it gets aggressive," said Plymouth Selectman Charlie Bletzer. "This happened for a reason. This happened to bring it to everybody's attention that we have to do something about this."

Those who came to Galanzi's aid are happy they were able to help.

"This is just a great opportunity for us just to come together for a small act that will literally change a life," said Patrick McNamara, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts.

Plymouth police officer Corey Velano said, "It's actually very touching that the community came forward with all this support for Stephen. It's just overwhelming."

Galanzi's mother, Beckie Golden, said she was "overwhelmed by it."

"It's like I just want to cry," she told WCVB.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Walmart worker robbed in Plymouth. Police, residents have his back