Police have released closed circuit television (CCTV) images of three people who may be able to assist with an investigation into an armed robbery of a bottle shop at Prospect yesterday.

About 4:30pm, Monday 27 August 2012, three men entered the bottle shop on Blacktown Road, Prospect.

The trio waited for several customers to leave the store and approaching a 66-year-old male store employee.

He was threatened with a firearm and baton and forced into a back room where he had his hands and feet tied-up with rope.

The man also had tape placed over his mouth preventing him from calling out for help.

The intruders proceeded to steal cash from the register as well as several cases of pre-mixed spirits from a store room. They also unsuccessfully attempted to gain access to an ATM before fleeing out the back door.

Two of the men were seen to get into a small black vehicle with the partial registration of PJT or PJP and drive from the scene.

The third man fled the store on foot where he was chased down Blacktown Road towards Metalla Road by members of the public but managed to evade capture.

Police were subsequently called to the scene and established a crime scene which was examined by specialist forensic officers.

The store employee was untied by a customer and treated at the scene by paramedics for minor cuts and bruising to his hands and feet.

Blacktown detectives are continuing investigations into the robbery and have seized CCTV footage from the store.

They would like to interview three people who are captured on the CCTV footage in relation to the matter.

The first person shown in the footage is described as male, of Caucasian appearance, 25 – 30 years old with a thin build, short brown hair and wearing a blue baseball cap, grey zipped hooded top, white t-shirt with a red pattern on it, black track pants and white joggers.

The second person is described as male, of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, 25 – 30 years old with a medium build and wearing a coloured hat, black sunglasses, orange and black fluorescent top with long-sleeve black top underneath, blue jeans and white joggers. He was also carrying a bag.

The third person is described as male, of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, 30 – 40 years old with a solid build, short brown hair, sunglasses and wearing a light checked long-sleeve button-up shirt, jeans and black shoes. He is also shown with a black scarf across his face and wearing gloves.