Police are appealing for information after a woman was robbed near a local business in Toronto, Lake Macquarie, overnight.

About 8pm (Saturday 4 April 2015), a 28-year-old woman gathered the takings from a business on The Boulevarde, before walking a short distance toward her unit on Cook Street.

While walking along a balcony on the second floor of the unit block, the woman was approached by a man who grabbed her bag containing the takings and fled the location.

Witnesses chased the man toward Cary Street before losing sight of him.

The woman was not injured during the incident.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were contacted and launched an investigation into the incident.

A crime scene was established and local police, with assistance from the Dog Unit, conducted an extensive search of the surrounding area but the man was not found.

Inquiries into the matter are continuing and police would now like to speak to a man who may be able to assist in the investigation.

The man is described as having a dark complexion, aged in his early 30s, about 180cm tall, with a thin build and he was last seen wearing a black hooded top.

Anyone who knows the man’s identity, or has any information that could assist police, is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.