A member of staff at a shop in High Street, Belfast, was subjected to a terrifying ordeal after a man entered and began brandishing what was described as kitchen knife.
He is reported to have threatened the staff member at knife point before fleeing with a sum of cash.
The staff member was not physically harmed, but left badly shaken.
Detectives are investigating the report of the armed robbery at the shop in Belfast city centre which occurred around 9:30pm.
“The suspect is described as being 5ft 11” tall, of thin build. He was wearing a navy jack with the hood up and he had a blue and white scarf covering his face.
He is reported to have spoken with a southern Irish accent.
Detective Sergeant Maguire said the member of staff was someone who was simply doing their job at their place of work, when what must have been a ‘terrifying ordeal’ occurred.
“Our enquiries are at an early stage, and I want to appeal to anyone who was in the High Street area between 9:25pm and 9:35pm and saw a man matching the description of the suspect, or anyone who knows anything about this crime to call detectives in Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1122 of 12/01/19,” added the Detective Sergeant.
Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.