A man has demanded money at a Taupo cafe armed with a firearm.
Police said at about 4.25am today, the man entered The Bakehouse Cafe in Taharepa Rd.
A cafe worker handed over a small amount of cash and the offender has run off along Taharepa Road towards the Paetiki Shops.
Police believe the offender has then run through a walkway into Hinemoa Ave
The offender is described as male Maori, about 180cm, medium build, wearing dark clothes.
The male had a black and white scarf wrapped around his head and a dark baseball cap.
Despite the early hour, the Bakehouse Cafe received customers from 4am onwards and there had been a few customers in the cafe prior to the robbery.
Police are appealing to those customers to come forward as they may have seen the offender or have information that will assist the investigation,