A Poplar Bluff man defended his neighbor’s property from thieves Monday morning.

Thieves stole a pick up early that morning from the First Community Bank. They then drove the truck through the front doors of the Green Forest Grocery and unplugged the store’s ATM.

A neighbor who lives across from the business heard the crash and saw the suspects trying to load the machine into the truck.

While his wife called 911, he fired a shotgun shot into the air causing the burglars to flee the scene in the stolen Dodge Ram.

The recently remodeled Green Forest Grocery sustained major damages. Officials have already contacted a contracted to repair the building.