A man threw petrol over a pharmacist and threatened to set him on fire in a robbery in a Christchurch shop on Saturday afternoon.
The man was wearing a red crash helmet when he entered Alabasters Pharmacy, opposite Merivale Mall.
After the robbery, the pharmacist went to a nearby shop for help. The offender escaped on a red Ducati 749 motorcycle.
The pharmacist is suffering from shock, but is recovering at home.
