AUBURN – Police fanned out around the Center Street area late Thursday in search of a man who robbed Sam’s Italian restaurant with what appeared to be a handgun.

Nobody was hurt in the 10:30 p.m. stickup, but police said the suspect made off with a significant amount of money. It was believed a man and a woman were working when the store was robbed.

The suspect, described as 6 foot, 5 inches and 140 pounds, displayed what was described as possibly a 9 mm handgun.

Believing the suspect fled on foot, police scoured the area around the restaurant, including an apartment complex on Northern Avenue. They found a cab with a driver who said he was called to that address but nobody showed up for a ride.

An hour after the robbery was reported, Auburn police were searching for suspects along Center Street and nearby Cross Street and Northern Avenue.

The Sam’s where the heist occurred is at the end of the Roak Mall.

By 11:30 p.m., police were waiting for a police officer with a tracking dog to arrive from Cumberland.

Police said the Sam’s employees told them the suspect was wearing sunglasses, jeans and a blue sweatshirt. He was also carrying a dark duffel bag, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Auburn police at 784-7332.