The warning comes after an attempted armed robbery with a sword at the Bunbury Forum’s KFC store on Sunday night.

About 9pm a man entered the store wearing a pink fleecy cloth which covered his nose and mouth.

He was armed with what police described as a samurai sword up to 60 centimetres long.

He approached the store’s counter and waved the sword at staff, banged the counter and demanded money.

Bunbury Police acting officer in charge Sergeant Laurie Stubbs said staff members stood back from the counter, refused to hand over any money and told the man that police were on their way.

The man left the store empty-handed.

South West Detectives Constable Daniel Cochrane said he would advise people to follow the instructions of an armed robber.

“While things worked out okay this time, normally I would advise people to cooperate,” Constable Cochrane said.

“You don’t know how they are going to react, what their state of mind is and how desperate they are.”

KFC store shift manager Lara Garcia said the store’s protocol was to follow a robber’s requests for the safety of everyone in the store.

Staff should press the duress button at the front counter and report the incident to police.

In July a man armed with a length of pipe threatened staff at Bunbury’s Croissant Express store.

In April last year a man went on an armed hold-up spree, terrifying staff at three local businesses.

Last year three pharmacies in Greater Bunbury were targeted by armed hold-ups within three months.

Constable Cochrane said he did not think this style of robbery was becoming more common locally.

South West Detectives are investigating the incident.