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'You've got 30 seconds to open the safe’: Armed robber steals cash, drugs

A terrified pharmacy worker was forced to her knees and warned she had “30 seconds to open the safe” as a man armed with a knife robbed the Sydney store.

Witness Tracey Carter rushed to help when she saw a man acting suspiciously out the front of the McMahons Point store on Tuesday afternoon.

“(One of the staff members) was saying ‘Can you please help us?’,” Ms Carter said. “I said ‘just stay where you are, he can’t see you’.

Police at the McMahons Point scene. Source: 7News
Police at the McMahons Point scene. Source: 7News

“I saw him with the knife, (a staff member) was on the floor, she was on the floor on her knees.

“He was telling her she’s got 30 seconds or something to open the safe.”

The man was captured on dashcam driving at police. Source: 7News
The man was captured on dashcam driving at police. Source: 7News
Police at the scene. Source: 7News
Police at the scene. Source: 7News

The pharmacist was forced to hand over cash and drugs from the Blues Point Road store before the man drove away.

The man’s hatchback was later spotted by police driving through St Leonards and after trying to stop the man, he drove at officers.

Police at the scene. Source: 7News
Police at the scene. Source: 7News

Due to the unsafe nature of the man’s driving, the subsequent police chase was called off.

The man then allegedly ditched the hatchback in Northwood and fled the scene on foot before being located hiding in bushland.

The man, aged in his 20s, remains in police custody. Charges are pending.