Police are appealing for information following the armed hold up of a service station at Rutherford yesterday.
Just after 5am (Wednesday 2 September 2015), a young man walked into the service station on the New England Highway and approached the console attendant for cigarettes.
The 23-year-old attendant refused to sell the cigarettes when the young man failed to provide age identification.
The young man then purchased chocolates and again asked the attendant to purchase cigarettes.
When the attendant again refused, the young man produced what appeared to be a small handgun and pistol-whipped the attendant.
The young man again demanded cigarettes and picked up a hand-held EFTPOS machine from the counter and again assaulted the attendant on the side of his head.
The attendant left the counter area and went into a back office. The young man took some chocolates and a drink from the store and was last seen walking west along the New England Highway towards Fourth Avenue.
Officers from Maitland Police Station were notified of the incident and established a crime scene at the store.
Following investigations, detectives would like to speak with a young man who may be able to assist them with inquiries.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 16 to 19-years-old, 170 to 180cm tall with a skinny build.
He was last seen wearing a dark blue / light blue coloured hooded jacket with the hood pulled over his head and long khaki coloured pants.
The attendant was not injured during the incident.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information on the identity or whereabouts of the young man, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to these incidents to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.