Police are searching for two armed men who chased an employee and attempted to rob a licensed premises in Toowoomba this morning.
At around 4.20am two men smashed their way into the James Street business through a glass door located on Geddes Street.
The men, armed with an axe and a rifle, entered the main bar area before spotting a 24-year-old male employee at a side entrance who had just finished work.
The man armed with the rifle chased the employee out of the premises and into a nearby carpark before returning to the building and attempting to regain entry.
The second man then ran outside empty-handed and fled the venue with his accomplice in a vehicle along Geddes Street.
Police attended the business a short time later and located the victim in the carpark who had sustained a leg injury after falling during the foot chase.
A blue Fore Falcon similar to the one described fleeing the scene was located on fire near Bird Park in Agnes Street, Centenary Heights just before 5.30am.
Police are investigating whether the incident is possibly linked to an earlier break in at a service station on the New England Highway at Cambooya.
Just before 1am three men smashed a glass door entered the business where they attempted to break into an ATM, causing extensive damage in the process.
They then entered an office area where they discharged a chemical fire extinguisher before fleeing the premises in a vehicle.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area where the vehicle was located burnt out near Bird Park between 4.30am and 5.30am or around the Cambooya service station at around 1am to come forward.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
