Thursday night.

Two staff at the Port Royal Esso service centre on Middle Road were closing for the night when the man struck, at around 10 p.m.

A Police spokesman said: "A female cashier was attending to other business near the cash register when she felt something bump her and saw a man, with a helmet on, pulling money from the drawer.

"The thief then walked out of the store, across the street, before making good his escape.

"The man was said to have had a partially concealed object in his rear pocket, but none of the witnesses were able to verify what it was.'' Manageress Tamara Malpas said the two staff, one of whom was female, were not threatened with violence but were very shaken up by the incident.

Police cordoned off the area late last night as a search was made for the culprit.

Witnesses were unable to provide a full description of the man but said he was wearing a maroon-coloured sweat top with white stripes down the long sleeves.

He also wore denim jeans and a racing-type helmet.