Police are investigating the armed robbery of a hotel at Waterford West overnight.
Preliminary investigations indicate that around 1.40am, a man and woman attended the Chambers Flat Road business in a red Mazda 323 hatchback.
The pair entered through the front door into the gaming room where the woman sat, while the man walked behind the bar into the back office where he stole a 24-year-old female employee's backpack.
A 29-year-old female employee was in the office at the time and confronted the man who produced a firearm.
The man then instructed the two staff members to lock the front doors.
As the 29-year-old employee was approaching the front doors, two patrons entered the hotel and were instructed by the armed-man to sit in the gaming room with the woman.
The man then proceeded back to the office with the two female employees while the woman remained in the gaming room with the customers.
Upon realising the woman was unarmed, the customers left the premises and contacted police.
The woman used keys obtained from the 24-year-old employee to open coin drawers in the gaming room and remove cash.
The man directed the 29-year-old employee to remove cash from tills, safe and cash redemption terminal (CRT) machine.
The man and woman then fled the scene with a significant amount of stolen cash in the stolen backpack.
Neither the two employees or two customers were injured during this incident.
Investigations continue.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
