Police are investigating the attempted armed robbery of a business in Raymond Terrace overnight.
About 7.10pm (Friday 27 December 2019), a man entered a petrol station on Adelaide Street and approached the counter.
The man asked for a pack of cigarettes before allegedly threatening the male staff member with what appeared to be a firearm and demanding cash and cigarettes.
The man jumped the counter, before struggling with the staff member who managed to escape from the premises.
The staff member returned, and a further struggled followed. The man ran from the store, jumping on a bicycle and fleeing the scene without any cash.
No customers were inside the store at the time, and no one was hurt.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called and began their investigations.
A crime scene was established, and a number of items were seized for forensic testing including a paintball pistol in the shape of a firearm, a cap, a bag and a bicycle helmet.
The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged between 20 and 25 years old, around 180cm tall, with red hair and a medium build. He was last seen wearing a brown hooded jumper, brown pants and black shoes.
Anyone with information about this man or this incident are urged to contact Raymond Terrace Police Station on
