A convenience store employee had a knife held to his throat in an armed robbery in Flatts yesterday, a co-worker said.

Abdul Shaikh, who was not on duty at the time of the incident, said: “He came inside the counter, put the knife on his neck and told him to open the register and give him the money. Then he just told him to sit down.”

He said that his co-worker, who has informed him what had happened when he arrived for the night shift, complied with the demand and gave the intruder cash from the register.

Mr Shaikh, 35, was speaking after the armed robbery at Belvin’s Variety in Smith’s at about 11.30am.

Police said yesterday afternoon that a 59-year-old suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident.

A police spokesman confirmed that a quantity of cash was taken in the robbery.

Police earlier said that the raider had left the store empty-handed.

Mr Shaikh said the victim had been the only employee on duty when the robber entered the store.

He added the incident had left his co-worker “a little stressed”.

Mr Shaikh said that the employee had not been involved in a similar incident before.

The store, located on Middle Road, was robbed in January last year.

Police at the time said a man walked into the store and stole money out of the register before he fled with another other man who had waited outside on a motorcycle.

No injuries were reported in the earlier incident, and no weapon was seen. An investigation was launched by police after CCTV footage of the robbery found its way online.

The store was also robbed by a man armed with a knife in January 2013, but no one was injured.

Robberies have also taken place at the other Belvin’s locations.

A man armed with a knife escaped with cash after he robbed the Belvin’s branch on Glebe Road, Pembroke, in December 2017.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the latest robbery.