The sign said "Open", but the door to Tony's Takeaways was locked and there was no one behind the counter yesterday.
The shop in the centre of a row of four - one of them empty - in Station Rd, Kamo, was closed after being burgled by masked robbers.
Two men, both wearing balaclavas, burst into the business about 8.30pm last Thursday.
One of the men held a knife at the female shop assistant and demanded money from the till.
Whangarei police Detective Pepe Reihana said the woman emptied the money into a bag and handed it to the men before they ran off.
"She has done what they asked. She doesn't know which direction they have gone," Mr Reihana said.
The two men were described as Maori or Polynesians. At the time, both were wearing black hooded sweatshirts, blue jeans and had balaclavas over their faces. Both men were wearing gloves.
Mr Reihana said a police dog and handler followed the duo towards a nearby alley but then lost the scent.
He appealed to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw any suspicious activity, including in the nearby streets, to contact police.
Neighbours said a market gardening family from Pukekohe had bought all four shops a few months back and was now running the dairy on the end of the row.
But when the Northern Advocate asked in the dairy about Tony's Takeaways, a young man serving there said: "We know nothing".
Police were also looking at security camera footage for clues.
Anyone with information can contact Mr Reihana at Whangarei police station on 09 430-4500.
Masked men rob Kamo takeaway
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.