The owner of the Arnold’s grocery store chain said he would be bolstering security in the wake of an attempted robbery in which a suspected firearm was pointed at a manager.

Frank Arnold said the suspects left empty-handed after being “spooked”, leaving staff shaken but not injured.

Speaking about the incident that took place on Wednesday night at Arnold’s Express on Front Street, Mr Arnold said: “Two gentlemen came in at about 9.30pm and held a gun, or a supposed gun, towards the manager that was on the register.

“There was another gentleman at the door. The store was empty except for someone else working there.

“Something happened and they got spooked and bolted out the door. They didn’t get anything. Thankfully the manager and staff are all fine, but they are shaken up.”

He added that after leaving the store, the two suspects got on a motorcycle and rode east.

Mr Arnold said he happened to be in the area when the attempted robbery took place, and quickly made his way to the store to make sure everyone was all right.

“It seems like it was the same MO that’s happening everywhere around Bermuda,” he said. “Two guys on a bike wearing helmets — dark coloured full-face helmets.”

Asked if any changes would be made as a result of the attempted robbery and others that have occurred around the island in recent months, he said: “We will be putting more security in place, but unfortunately there’s only so much you can do about someone with a gun.

“I have spoken to the police and they are tackling it the best they can.”

He urged anyone with information about the attempted robbery to contact the police, noting that there was one customer who had just left the store when the suspects entered.

Anyone with information, or who may have seen suspicious activity in the surrounding area at about 9.30pm on Wednesday, are asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Unit on 247-1744 or the confidential and anonymous Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-8477.