Townsville detectives investigating the alleged robbery of an outdoor/camping store in Garbutt yesterday have charged a man with armed robbery.

It will be alleged at around 4.45pm a man left the Bayswater Road business with a number of items that he failed to pay for.

A 30-year-old male employee chased the man on foot for a short distance before the fleeing man turned around and allegedly threatened the employee with a knife.

The man was arrested in a nearby street after the employee flagged down a passing police vehicle.

Police intercepted the car the man had jumped into in Greg Jabbs Court, and took him into custody without incident.

No one was physically injured as a result of the robbery.

A 23-year-old Kirwan man has been remanded in police custody and is due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court tomorrow.