Police are appealing for public assistance after the attempted armed robbery of a fast food outlet in the Illawarra region.

Just after 9pm yesterday (Tuesday 8 November 2011), a woman entered the restaurant on Princes Highway, Dapto, and threatened an employee with a knife.

 Demands were then made for a staff member behind the counter to give her cash.

 The woman then fled the scene empty handed.

 Police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command attended and set up a crime scene.

The woman is described as 30-35 years old, slim build, shoulder length hair, with a fair complexion, and tattoos on both arms. She was wearing a grey t-shirt with a black motif on the front and dark pants.