Police from North Shore Command are investigating the theft of a BMW from a Lane Cove address that was later used in an armed robbery at a hotel in Northbridge.

Between 9am and 3pm today (Monday 18 March, 2013) a home in Bridge Street, Lane Cove was broken into and the keys to a grey BMW X5 were stolen along with the car.

The BMW was driven to Baringa Road, Northbridge where just before 3pm, four men, all wearing disguises and one carrying a rifle, one carrying a knife and another carrying a hammer, entered a hotel.

Fourteen patrons that were inside the hotel were forced to the ground while the masked men emptied the tills.

The manager of the hotel, a 27-year-old man, was assaulted by one of the men before they fled the scene in the BMW that had a fifth offender waiting in the drivers seat.

A crime scene was established and was forensically examined.

The manager suffered minor injuries to his face.

Patrolling police came across the stolen BMW on the Harbour Bridge and attempts to catch up with the vehicle were unsuccessful due to speed and traffic.

Investigations continue.