A lone female service station attendant has been assaulted with a hammer during a terrifying early morning robbery in Melbourne's north.

The young woman was working alone Sunday morning when three armed men burst through the doors before going on a destructive rampage.

CCTV footage shows the trio pulled up right in front of the doors, leaving their car running as they burst into the Reservoir store.

View photos Three masked men burst into a Reservoir service station early Sunday morning, taking $10,000 in cigarettes and cash. Picture: 7 News More

Fully masked, they smashed the displays with hammers and a tyre lever.

The commotion alerted the sole attendant who'd been making breakfast out the back

The young woman put her hands up to surrender before opening the till for one of the hooded men.

Even after he had the money, he continued to terrorise her, smashing the victim's phone and then turning on her.

View photos The lone female attendant put her hands up to surrender before opening the till, while one man smashed her phone with a hammer. Picture: 7 News More

After taking about $10,000 in cigarettes and cash, the group fled.

The attendant was left shaking and in tears, with no phone to call for help.

She eventually went outside to ask a customer for assistance, before her husband arrived to take care of her.

View photos The car used in the crime was found dumped in Burwood later on Sunday afternoon. Picture: 7 News More

“They hit her shoulder with the hammer,” the victim’s husband said.

“She was terrible, she was crying. She can't even speak a word for at least half an hour.”

This is the third time in just three months the service station has been robbed, but this morning's was the first instance where an attendant was inside at the time.

The car used in the crime was found dumped in Burwood later Sunday afternoon.