A MAN working in a takeaway shop at Long Jetty has used a mop to chase away a suspected armed robber who was allegedly brandishing a handgun, police said.
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It was one of two alleged attempted armed robberies police are investigating on the Central Coast on Monday night.
Shortly after 7pm, two men aged 77 and 24, and a woman, aged 41, were working at a restaurant on Lakedge Avenue, Berkeley Vale, when an unknown man entered armed with a handgun, police said.
The man allegedly demanded cash and threatened the elderly man before fleeing the store empty handed.
He was last seen running west along Bluebell Avenue into Grevillea Crescent, police said.
The man is described as being about 175cm tall, with a thin build, wearing shorts and a dark-coloured hooded jumper with his face covered.
Then, about 7.15pm, a man, 46, and a woman, 44, were working at a takeaway store on The Entrance Road, Long Jetty, when an unknown man entered the store armed with a handgun, police said.
"The man threatened the pair and demanded cash, before the 46-year-old grabbed a mop nearby and began to chase the offender," police said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The man ran from the store and was last seen running east along Stella Street."
He is described as Caucasian, aged in his 30s, between 170 and 180cm tall, with a thin build, wearing shorts and a dark coloured hooded jumper.
Officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District were called to both incidents.
While it was early in the investigations, police said they were still establishing whether the incidents were linked.
Anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from nearby either location between 6.30pm and 8pm, or who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, is urged to contact Wyong Police on 4356 6099 or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
