Victim: Nick Niederberger, owner of The Pearl bakery in Highgate. Picture: Robert Duncan

A Highgate baker feels overwhelmed by the support of locals after an armed robbery early yesterday.

Nick Niederberger was alone in his Lincoln Street bakery about 5am when a woman dressed nicely but without shoes asked if he was open.

He was still baking but told her she could buy something.

A male accomplice walked in shortly after and the couple argued about who had money to pay for a sweet treat.

They then left to “get some money” before the woman returned about five minutes later and bought a croissant.

Mr Niederberger said the man then stormed in holding something big and threatened to hurt him.

With little cash on-site, the baker complied with the offender’s demands and let him grab some notes from the till. “He said, ‘Give me the effing money, give me the effing money’,” Mr Niederberger said.

“The last armed robbery about four or five years ago I fought him off but this one I said no.”







The woman was in her 20s, with fair skin, slim build, about 165cm tall and short blonde hair.

The man is in his 20s, with dark skin, about 190cm tall and an athletic build.