Armed man on loose after restaurant robbed

The Abbey bar and kitchen was cordoned off after the robbery. Photo / Natalie Slade

Police are in the Auckland suburb of Greenlane searching for a gunman who robbed a nearby restaurant.

Officers were called to The Abbey Bar & Kitchen, on the corner of Great South Rd and Woodbine Avenue, after a man with a gun threatened staff.

The incident happened shortly before 11am.

Several police officers were called to the site to search the area, where there are two schools nearby.

A man working in a shop next to the restaurant said he had just gone out to the back of the store when several police cars arrived.

He said police had told him that the robber had run out of a back door and possibly into a getaway car parked behind the restaurant.

The man said he had seen police take a woman - thought to be a cleaner
who was inside the restaurant at the time - away and were also speaking to the restaurant's manager.

Police at the scene said the robber made off with an unknown amount of money and inquiries are continuing.

The store was cordoned off.