Armed robbery shock

Tiffany Rozycki-Russell was shocked by an armed hold up at the Whistle Stop Convenience Store.

Clementine Norton

BEING faced with a 20cm stainless steel knife when an offender jumped the counter was not enough to numb Tiffany Rozycki-Russell's senses.

The Whistlestop Convenience Store manager pressed the panic button to trigger police and security staff as the man ran from the Thabeban shop on Wednesday evening.

The alleged robbery was over in a flash, with staff reporting the man headed down Maryborough Street towards Thabeban Park Racecourse.

Ms Rozycki-Russell said the worst part of the ordeal was having to tell her 90-year-old father afterwards.

“He was quite shocked,” she said.

“I've worked here seven-and-a-half years, and we've never had anything like this happen.”

Not everyone involved in the drama was so cool about the incident - a teenage shop assistant was left in shock.

“She (the 14 year old) was pretty shaken, so we sent her home,” Ms Rozycki-Russell said.

“She's only worked here for three weeks.”

Ms Rozycki-Russell said the man had demanded cash and cigarettes, which staff handed over.

A man was found and arrested at another store in Maryborough Street about 45 minutes after the robbery when a telephone call was made to police.

“Police received information from a business nearby,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Cameron Schneider said.

The Whistlestop Convenience Store was re-opened about two hours after the alleged robbery by Ms Rozycki-Russell and another senior staff member.

A 17-year-old man appeared in Bundaberg Magistrates Court yesterday charged with robbery with violence.

The court heard the man had no fixed residence, and he made no application for bail.

He was remanded in custody to appear in court today.