A man brandishing what he claimed to be a firearm raided the Southside Pizza House on Friday, threatening staff and demanding cash.

While manager Roberto Mescarenhes said the suspect was able to escape with a few hundred dollars, the situation could have been much worse.

“The main thing is that everyone is all right,” he said. “Nobody got hurt.”

Describing the incident, Mr Mescarenhes said the restaurant was closed for the evening when the suspect entered through a back door, which had been left open so staff could throw out the day’s trash.

“The man came in through the back door with the hood on and a black mask,” Mr Mescarenhes said. “He had a green bag in his hand. He said there was a gun inside and said: ‘If you don’t give me money, I’ll shoot you’.”

The manager said the suspect threatened several staff members, demanding money from each. When he was eventually given some money, he said it was not enough and demanded more.

The suspect later went into the restaurant office, but the safe had already been locked. He then fled, leaving the staff shaken but unhurt.

“Most of it was caught on camera,” Mr Mescarenhes added. “The police came later and took the footage and everything like that.”

A police spokeswoman said officers are actively investigating the robbery, which took place at around 10.25pm, and are asking for the public’s assistance.

“The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 6ft to 6ft 2in, large build, wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled over his head, blue mask or bandanna covering his face, blue gloves and black pants,” the spokeswoman said. “He was brandishing an object wrapped in a green bag in his left hand.

“We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who may have any information, or who may have seen the suspect or this incident on Southside Road between 10pm and 10.30pm that evening.

“All information provided will be treated in confidence.

“Anyone with information or evidence that will assist in prosecuting and bringing this offender to justice are asked to contact Detective Inspector Colin King at the Criminal Investigation Unit at 247-1252, or on the main Police line at 295-0011. Alternatively, information can be provided to the confidential and independent Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-8477.”

The incident is just the latest in a series of armed robberies. The previous day, four men reportedly targeted the Somerset branch of HSBC but fled empty-handed. In September two men brandishing a firearm stole cash from The Money Store in Warwick, while in June a man robbed the St George’s HSBC branch with a firearm.