Authorities are searching for a man suspected of burglarizing a Georgiana gas station early Thursday morning.

Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden said his office was alerted to the burglary at 31 Marathon in just south of Georgiana by the store’s alarm.

“We received a call this morning about an alarm going off,” he said. “The owner also got the same call. When he got there an 18-wheeler was there and a black male got into it and took off. He followed him and notified 911 that he was behind the vehicle. He went through Georgiana and on a little side street the driver stopped and jumped out the vehicle and ran. Officers with the Georgiana Police Department attempted to apprehend the suspect, but were unable to.”

Harden said authorities later learned the truck the suspect fled in as also stolen.

A search for the suspect is ongoing and that authorities are attempting to collect surveillance footage to assist in identifying the burglar.

“Hopefully we’ll have some footage from the store that will help us get a better description of the suspect,” Harden said.

According to Harden, the truck and items taken from the store have been recovered.

However, the burglary did cause the store to lose business for much of Thursday.

According to a Facebook post from Ann King, an owner of the store, the burglar damaged some equipment which kept the store from being able to process fuel transactions.

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, King posted a second message letting customers know that the store was “back up and running.”

Anyone that may have information on the case is asked to contact the BCSO at (334) 382-6521.

“There’s a possibility there will be a reward for information leading to the arrest and the conviction of this suspect,” Harden said.