POLICE are searching for a man on a red bicycle who terrorised a staff member with a knife before robbing a Mount Austin service station on Monday night.

The raid comes after three Turvey Park homes were broken into and ransacked by bandits earlier that day.

At 7pm on Monday night, a man entered Westside Petroleum on Northcott Parade brandishing a knife, Inspector Peter McLay said. 

The robber threatened the male staff member, believed to be in his thirties, before demanding cash from the till.

But after taking the money, the assailant made the bizarre choice to flee on a bicycle. 

Inspector McLay said the bike bandit was followed by witnesses who tried to stop him, and was last spotted on Bourke Street heading west.

The man is described as having a thin build and riding a red mountain bike. 

“We are now seeking assistance from the public to identify the male suspect,” Inspector McLay said.

“We believe he may have been seen outside the service station that evening about quarter to seven.” 

Westside Petroleum attendant Ashleigh Phillips said staff were regularly abused by customers, but had never resulted in an altercation with a weapon. 

Only last Friday she phoned for police assistance after being threatened by a customer, she said.

“It’s really typical, I get threatened pretty regularly,” Ms Phillips said.

“Stuff like ‘I’m going to cave your head in’.” 

Police are also investigating three break and enters of Turvey Park homes on Monday morning.

Between 9am and 12pm, three houses on Bluett Crescent, Rudd Street and Blamey Street were forcibly entered through a window and back door. 

Two of the homes were ransacked with nothing taken, while a small sum of cash was taken from the Blamey Street residence.

Given the location of the three homes, police are not ruling out the crimes may be linked, Inspector McLay said. 

The crime spate comes after homes in Tolland were targeted by a gang of kids on Sunday night.

Wagga police received one confirmed report that the children had been let inside a woman’s home after begging for food, only to flee after stealing two mobile phones. 

Anyone with information on these incidents should contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.