UPDATE @ 9.30am, November 3 | TWO people have been arrested following a terrifying robbery at a Gold Coast pub that saw staff members threatened at gunpoint, forced into a toilet and restrained with zip-ties.
Two men, who were wearing gloves and had their faces covered, smashed their way through the glass doors of Ashmore Tavern with an axe around 3.40am on Wednesday.
The pair, who were also armed with a gun, then confronted the two male and one female employees and threatened them.
The workers were then forced into a disabled toilet, where they were restrained with zip-ties.
The offenders ransacked the pub and ran off with a sum of cash.
Despite best efforts from police and the dog squad, the pair weren’t found.
However, on Wednesday night, police on the Sunshine Coast arrested a 28-year-old man and 21-year-old woman, believed to be connected to the robbery.
The pair, who are from New South Wales, were taken into custody at a Maroochydore shopping centre around 6pm.
It will be alleged they were in possession of cash, believed to have been taken from the pub.
They have since been charged with a string of offences including possessing and receiving tainted property and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
They are both scheduled to appear in court later today.
The search continues for the other man involved.
EARLIER @ 12pm, November 2 | Two men are on the run following a terrifying armed robbery at Ashmore Tavern this morning, which saw staff tied up.
The duo forced their way into the Cotlew Street business using an axe around 3.40am on Wednesday.
The men, believed to be armed with a firearm, threatened three employees before forcing them into a disabled toilet.
The staff members, two men and one woman, were restrained using zip-ties.
The pair then stole cash before feeling from the tavern through the carpark and into nearby bushland.
Police arrived immediately and the men were tracked by the dog squad to no success, and now remain on the run.
No one was physically injured and no customers were disturbed during the robbery.
Investigations continue.
