Shop assistant's screams scare-off armed man

An armed man fled a Christchurch dairy empty-handed today when the woman shop assistant screamed.

The woman was not hurt during the robbery attempt, but police said she was shaken.

Detective Sergeant Ross Tarawhiti, of Hornby CIB, said the robbery attempt happened at 10.50am at the "On the Spot" Selwyn Street Dairy in Addington.

The man was carrying a small red and black bag.

"As he approached the sole female shop attendant he pulled a knife from his trousers," Mr Tarawhiti said.

"This caused the female shop assistant to scream at which time the male has turned around, left the shop and headed south in the direction of the Port Hills on Selwyn Street."

The man fled on a "Dirt" style mountain bike.

He was described as Caucasian, aged between 17- 25 years, about 180cm tall and of medium to thin build. He was wearing what appeared to be a black or dark blue coloured sweat shirt, with a large white number 23 on it, and a white cap.

This man was seen in the company of a second man a short distance from the shop both before and after the incident.

Police want to speak to anyone who saw the pair or who knows who they might be.

- NZPA