Crooks smash into convenience store, leave empty handed

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Thieves used a pickup truck to smash their way into a northwest Houston gas station but left empty handed.

It happened at the Texaco on Ella at Beltway 8 around 2:30am this morning.

The clerk says two men entered the store and acted like customers. Seconds later, a third man wearing a mask and hoodie entered the store and demanded everyone get down on the ground.

The clerk hid behind the counter and called 911 while a fourth man rammed a pickup truck into the front of the store. The clerk says all four suspects then tried to steal the store's ATM, but they could not dislodge the machine and left empty handed.

The would-be robbers were last seen driving a silver Dodge pickup truck westbound on the Sam Houston.

Police are now reviewing surveillance video in hopes of identifying the crooks.