Police have appealed for witnesses to help their investigation into an attempted aggravated robbery in Hawera.
They said a man entered a dairy just before 7pm yesterday, aimed a pistol at the store keeper and demanded money.
However, he ran out without obtaining anything.
Despite that, the police said this was a nasty crime and the Hawera community needs to know the offender is caught.
The shopkeeper was shaken but not injured, and is being supported by family and officers.
