Police release image of man wanted after attempted armed hold-up at Caltex Service Station in Tamworth | UPDATE

One man was armed with a hunting knife and the other with a rifle when they entered the Marius St store about 4.25am on Tuesday.

They threatened the woman working in the store before a customer intervened and was hit by the barrel of the gun.

“He tackled the man with the rifle. He was assaulted by the man with the rifle but he managed to wrestle with the man and take the rifle from him,” Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly said.

“There were no shots fired in the incident and there was no property stolen from the store because of the efforts of that man.

“We don’t recommend people intervene for their own safety, however, this man bravely did and was successful in foiling the robbery attempt.”

The two men fled empty-handed in a white Mitsubishi Magna which was stolen from an Arinya St home about 2am. 

It was found on fire in Anthony Rd shortly after the attempted hold-up.

“A crime scene was established at the Caltex service station where the firearm was recovered and it will be forensically examined,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.

“We urge the community if they have information that can assist [to come forward].”

Now, police are hunting two men witnesses have described at the scene.

The man, show in the computer-generated image, is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged between 18 and 25 years.

He is believed to be about 170cm tall with a medium build and with a short trimmed beard. 

He was last seen wearing a black and pink and black hooded jumper, brown pants, white shoes, and carrying a large hunting knife.

The second man is described as being of a medium to solid build. 

He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured hooded jumper, grey track pants, black shoes with a balaclava covering his face. Police said he was carrying a firearm.

Police have released a computer-generated image of a man they want to speak to following an attempted armed robbery in Tamworth in the early hours of Tuesday.

About 4.25am, two men, armed with a knife and a gun, entered the Caltex service station on the corner of White Street and Marius Street, and confronted a female employee.

The man armed with the knife, threatened the woman, demanding cash.

A customer in the store at the time tackled the second man, before he was assaulted with the firearm.

Following a struggle, the man was able to wrestle the gun from the armed man.

Both armed men ran from the store, fleeing in a stolen white Mitsubishi Magna.

The stolen vehicle was later found on fire in Anthony Road.

A crime scene was set up at the petrol station and police have seized the gun which will now undergo forensic testing.

Now, police are hunting two men witnesses have described at the scene.

The man, show in the computer-generated image, is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged between 18-25 years, about 170cm tall, of a medium build, and with a short trimmed beard.

He was last seen wearing a black and pink or purple hooded jumper, brown pants, white shoes, and carrying a large hunting knife.

The second man is described as being of a medium to solid build.

He was last seen wearing a dark coloured hooded jumper, grey track pants, black shoes with a balaclava covering his face. Police said he was carrying a firearm.

Anyone with information should contact Tamworth police on 6768 2999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.