A thief who threatened a service station employee with a machete was forced to turn tail after he pulled out a fishing knife in defence.

The incident took place at Boaz Island Shell Service Station & Marina in Sandys on Wednesday evening.

“It appears that at 6.50 p.m. on Wednesday, an unknown man entered the service station, brandishing a machete and demanding money,” a Police spokesperson stated.

“An employee who was inside the premises at the time grabbed a fishing knife, which is sold at the service station, and chased the offender out of the building.”

The 27-year-old employee from Pembroke was not injured. The suspect escaped on foot with a pack of cigarettes.

The spokesperson continued: “[The suspect] was described as a brown-skinned male, approximately 5'11" tall of slim build, wearing a blue jacket with two vertical lines across the chest, blue jeans, white sneakers and a dark-coloured helmet with a black visor.”

Police ask anyone with information to contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.