KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Knoxville Police are looking for an armed robber who attacked an elderly man.

Authorities say just before 1:00 a.m. Wednesday, when 73 year old James Reynolds answered a knock at his door on Maryland Avenue in the Lonsdale community.

"I was asleep and someone kept beating on the door. It sounded like he was going to knock the door down. When I turned on the porch light I didn't see anyone but I opened the door a bit and it came flying back at me knocking me down on the floor." James says.

The thief claimed his car broke down, but when the victim opened the door, the robber forced the man to the ground and demanded money at gunpoint.

James says, "I was still on the floor but I reached by cane and hit him in the face several times."

The robber got away before James had a chance to get up off the floor.

"He got away with $200 dollars. Every penny I had. I shouldn't have opened the door at 1:00 in the morning but I was worried that someone needed help. " says James

Police remind everyone to use caution before opening the door to strangers.

Sergent Chris McCarter says, "If you don't know that person; Then don't open the door for them. Call the police department and we will send someone out to check out the situation."

The armed robber is a white make in his 20's with short black hair. He was wearing a black t-shirt and long khaki shorts at the time of the robbery.

If you have any information please call the Knoxville Police at 215-7212.