MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Police were seeking a man suspected of robbing U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky outside a Merrillville supermarket.

The 12-term congressman from northwest Indiana was robbed about 9 p.m. Friday as he was walking alone with groceries to his car.

“I was putting my grocery bag on the back seat when I was grabbed from behind. I never saw it coming,” Visclosky said Saturday.

The man demanded his wallet and keys. He escaped with about $10 in cash and Visclosky’s credit cards. The credit cards have since been canceled.

Visclosky did not believe the robber realized who he was. But he described the experience, which lasted less than a minute, as “terrifying.”

The man fled around the north side of the building. Police used a dog to try to track the suspect.

“It’s an unfortunate situation that happens about this time of year because of the holiday,” said Merrillville Town Council President Sean Pettit.

Posted 12/17/2007