Westby Police Officer, Matt White, was in the right place at the right time after a break-in at the Heartland Cenex Mini-Mart early Friday morning.

At 1 a.m., on Jan. 9, Officer White responded to a security alarm at the Cenex Mini-Mart on South Main Street. White entered the driveway from Main Street and had just finished checking the front door of the business and was headed for the northside door, when he noticed a broken window and the tail lights of a car exiting through the back side of the property toward Bekkedal Avenue.

Officer White immediately called for backup and proceeded to stop the vehicle, which had two occupants inside, Taylor Visgar, age 18 and Floyd Hershberger, age 19, both of Westby. Hershberger was taken into custody in connection with the burglary.

Hershberger gained entry to the business by breaking a double, thermal pane window on the north side of the building, where he entered and exited the building after stealing several packs of cigarettes. He was transported to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office in Viroqua where he was later released on a signature bond.

Hershberger is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in Vernon County Circuit Court on Monday, Jan. 26 at 8:30 p.m.

Heartland Country Cooperative manager Randy Dahlen commended the Westby Police on their quick response to the break-in.

“Thirty seconds later and they would have been gone. Matt did a nice job and the department should be commended for their work,” Dahlen said.

According to Dahlen this is the first time, during his tenure with the business that the convenience store was ever broken in to.