Attempted robbery

Deciding to close his store five minutes early on a Friday night spared a Huntly liquor store owner from being robbed. But the 34-yearold father of two was still forced to run for refuge as a gang of hooded thieves charged him and his associates preparing to leave for the night. ‘‘We got a bit lucky, for whatever reason we weren’t busy and closed early,’’ said the owner, who would not be named. The youths made threats and stole a Subaru. No-one was injured in the ordeal, but the owner’s ute was damaged.