Police forensics officers were at Roti on Wednesday afternoon, where an aggravated burglary took place in the early hours.

A Norwich restaurant worker has described the terrifying moment he was threatened with a knife after disturbing intruders during an early-hours burglary.

A Norwich restaurant worker has described the terrifying moment he was threatened with a knife after disturbing intruders during an early-hours burglary.

Waiter Akbar Hussain heard the two men enter his flat at around 4am, initially thinking it was a friend returning from the restaurant below, where he and his colleagues have been eating as they observe Ramadan.

But when the men didn’t answer his greeting, Mr Hussain opened the door to the hallway and found two men carrying items including a laptop, a mobile phone and a bag of trainers.

When he shouted for help, one of the men threatened him with a 10-inch kitchen knife, warning the waiter not to follow them before fleeing.

Mr Hussain, 23, said he had been left “in shock” after the incident, which happened at staff quarters above the Roti restaurant on Queens Road at about 4am on Wednesday morning, and had been torn between pursuing the two burglars and protecting himself.

“I didn’t know what to do or say,” he said. “I tried to chase them but I couldn’t. They ran away and I was scared, and they were both quite big.

“I just shouted but they had got out and ran away.”

He described the two men, who were last seen running along Mariners Lane, as white, in their 30s and of large build.

Forensics officers were at the flat yesterday and police have appealed for information relating to the incident.

Anyone with information should contact DC Keith Linstead at Norwich CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

See tomorrow’s Norwich Evening News for more.