The owner of a rural service station attempted to stop thieves by “bumping” their getaway car after he interrupted a burglary at the premises on Wednesday morning.

Clabby Filling Station, a family-owned service station in Clabby, Co. Fermanagh was broken into by four men around 2.45am yesterday morning (Wednesday June 19.)

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Stuart McDowell, manager of Clabby Filling Station said: “Four men in a black Golf made their way into the shop via the front door and they went down to the Post Office area. They broke through three doors to get into the Post Office area where the safe is and also where our cigarettes are stored.”

“They wrecked that area but because I’m not allowed in, I’m not sure what was taken. I would suspect cigarettes because they were accessible to them,” added Stuart.

Stuart explained that his father Robert McDowell, the service station owner, was first at the scene after being alerted by the alarm company.

“The alarm company rang my father and my father rang me and I was down then a few minutes later than my father. It was my father who came on the scene first and he interrupted them,” said Stuart.

He explained that his father attempted to stop the thieves but they managed to get away: “The car was trying to get away and my father bumped it, he hit it in the back to try and stop it. He bumped the car and he caused damage to their car. Unfortunately they still got away.”

Although the thieves managed to drive away from the scene, in their hurry they ended up leaving one man behind.

“The fourth member was unable to get in the car so whenever I had arrived down, the car had actually come back, I assume to try and lift the fourth member but he was in hiding at that time,” said Stuart.

He continued: “Whenever they came back, I then tried to chase them up the road to Fivemiletown. I was able to confirm from our other shop in Fivemiletown, from the CCTV cameras, that they went out the Cooneen Road. I came back then and searched for the fourth guy.”

Stuart understands that the police arrested a man in the area but he couldn’t confirm if the man was one of the thieves. He said: “There was a man arrested who was on foot walking towards Fivemiletown, presumably the fourth person but I wouldn’t like to assume that.”

Speaking to this newspaper, Stuart commented that he was “overwhelmed with anger” following the burglary. He said: “I just can’t express how shocked I am that this has happened in our generally quiet community. It’s just something you don’t expect.”

Stuart added: “Thankfully the support of the community has been fantastic. Everybody has been so good. People have been offering if there’s anything they can do or assist in any way. It’s brilliant to see a community coming together in hard times.”

Speaking on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: “Shortly after 2:30am, it was reported that a black VW Golf car with four men on board entered the area.

“A quantity of cigarettes were stolen from a service station at the scene. As the black VW Golf car tried to leave the area, a white coloured van arrived at the scene and obstructed the car causing damage to the VW Golf.”

He continued: “A 23 year old man was later arrested on suspicion of burglary. He is currently in police custody.”

“Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone with any information or who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact detectives in Enniskillen on 101, quoting reference number 140 19/6/19.

“Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100 per cent anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime,” Detective Inspector Stevenson concluded.