'Hard enough as it is': Struggling petrol station owner reaches out to community with emotional post after man walks off without paying for fuel

CHARLIE MOORE
17 April 2019
DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Owner of BP Edmunton, near Cairns, posted images of alleged thief to Facebook
In heartfelt post, he appealed to his customers to help him track the man down
He said times were hard and that his business was struggling to make money
A struggling petrol station owner has allegedly caught a man stealing a jerrycan of fuel from the pump.
The owner of BP Edmunton, near Cairns, posted CCTV images of the man to Facebook in a bid to catch him.
In a heartfelt post on Monday, he appealed to his customers to help him track the man down.
He said times were hard and that his business was struggling.
He wrote: ‘Calling on the Cairns community, more specifically Edmonton to help your locally owned service station catch this thief.
‘This man filled up a 10L jerry can this evening around 5.40pm and ran off. Whilst this was only a jerry can, it’s the principle behind the deed and the fact that this is occurring on such a regular basis is beyond heartbreaking.
‘Business is hard enough as it is, so please If anyone knows who this man is, and has the heart to turn him in, please privately message me.
‘Thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to assist.’
The post has been shared 800 times and has attracted hundreds of comments.
Many slammed the alleged thief. Debbie Stanley said: ‘For all the people saying fuel is expensive… that’s life mate. Get a job and pay like the rest of us. Theft is theft.’
Some commenters, however, turned on the station owner, saying fuel was too expensive.
Ash Bavister wrote: ‘Firstly, what a grub that’s unacceptable! Secondly, at 152/L don’t tell us (the consumer) about hard times.’