Station Hotel patrons shocked by robbery at gunpoint
THREE drinkers and the barman at South Lismore's Station Hotel got the shock of their lives on Thursday night when a man burst in and robbed the pub at gunpoint.
Police believe he may be the man who was captured on CCTV when he robbed a Banora Point video store with a handgun last week.
A $1000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the man's arrest.
Station Hotel licensee Jeremy Wilson said a quiet night was disturbed at about 8.30pm when the man went into the pub and demanded money.
"At the time there was only the barman David and three people in the bar," he said.
"He came into the pub and chucked a bag on the bar and said: 'Fill it up with money, this is a robbery'.
"He then walked around behind the bar and pointed the gun at David and demanded he fill the bag up."
Police said the man fled the pub on foot into the area of Casino St at South Lismore.
"David was a bit shaken up so I have offered him counselling but thankfully nobody was hurt," Mr Wilson said.
Richmond Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector Greg Moore said police were on the scene in minutes along with forensics officers.
Detectives are appealing for anyone with information about the incident or who may know the man's identity to come forward.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 170cm tall and wearing a white T-shirt, black pants and a black baseball cap and black sunglasses.
"Our investigators are keeping an open mind but there are possibilities that he could be linked to armed robberies in the Northern Rivers area," he said.
It was possible the man in the CCTV footage is still in the Northern Rivers.
"We are asking people to and contact police if they think they have seen him."
Dob in a crim:
ANYONE with information about this incident is asked to contact Lismore police on 02 6626 0599, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Details can also be provided confidentially via the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
