BUSINESSMAN Duncan Litchfield dramatically foiled a raid on his A39-side service station and even jumped in his car to chase the three balaclava-clad offenders after a late-night break-in on Wednesday. Mr Litchfield, who has owned the St Audries Service Station in West Quantoxhead for the last 12 years, was at his nearby home when the alarms sounded shortly before 11.30pm. "I looked out of the window and saw a white car parked outside," he told the Free Press yesterday (Thursday). "I shouted and was out of the house within 30 seconds." The would-be thieves, dressed in overalls or grey tracksuits, with their faces covered by balaclavas and with torches on their heads, saw Mr Litchfield and sped off in their vehicle - a white Honda CRV stolen from Langport earlier in the evening. But Mr Litchfield was so angered by the attempt on his property that he chased after them, driving as far as Bridgwater. He later discovered they had turned off for Taunton, where it is believed they were involved in a burglary on a town centre shop. The offenders had broken into the service station's shop and dragged an old safe weighing around half a ton outside before Mr Litchfield was on the scene. But they escaped empty handed, causing just minimal damage to the shop door. "I wasn't frightened at all when I ran out to confront them," he said. "I was just absolutely incensed. Obviously chasing after them isn't something that is recommended. "They looked pretty professional but I was so angry." Mr Litchfield managed to get part of the number plate of the vehicle used by the burglars, securing the full registration details and make by looking at CCTV footage later. "We upgraded our CCTV system just two months ago and now have 16 cameras focused on the site, both internal and external and with excellent night vision," he said. "The picture quality is great and we can zoom in on things like numberplates. "In addition to that we have three alarms, including one which goes straight to the police." But Mr Litchfield believes the biggest deterrent to would-be criminals is that he and his wife Gina live so close to the business, having built their own house on site within the last year or so. "It means we can respond to incidents like this so quickly," he said. "Although the police were on the scene within about 15 minutes, if we hadn't been living here I wouldn't have been able to interrupt them when I did. "And they would have probably got away with at least a significant quantity of cigarettes." The service station survived an attempt to set fire to its petrol pumps in October 2012 - before the couple built their house. Luckily the failed arson attack - believed to be the work of three young men, possibly teenagers - caused only £150 of damage and was also captured on CCTV. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police confirmed that the raid on the service station was believed to be linked to a later burglary at Alpha Clothing in The Courtyard, just off St James Street, in Taunton. He said a large quantity of clothing was stolen in the break-in, which happened at about 12.30am yesterday. The offenders are believed to have made off in the same white Honda CRV used in the West Quantoxhead incident. "We are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious or saw the car anywhere in the area to contact us," he said. Anyone with information is asked to speak to DC Mark Schofield on the police number 101.