PLAINVILLE -- A gunman held up a pastry shop in a small Man Mar Drive shopping strip Thursday, escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash and leaving a woman employee shaken by the traumatic encounter.

The robbery occurred about 4 p.m. at the Pastry Box off Man Mar near the intersection of Routes 106 and 152, police said.

Initial reports were that the robber may have used a shotgun in the holdup, but police had not confirmed that.

A major question in the robbery investigation seems to be what moti vated the robber to target the small pastry shop known for its chocolate chip cookies and eclairs.

The Pastry Box advertises on its door that it accepts only cash or check payments -- no debit or credit cards are allowed. Police said Thursday night they had not determined how much cash was taken.

`` They haven't calculated (that yet),'' Plainville Sgt. David Simmons said. `` He demanded money and left in an unknown direction.''

The female employee then fled the store, and ran into Annie's Book Stop next door to use the phone to call police, according to two bookstore employees.

`` (The robber) had already left, and she came in here and waited until the police came,'' one employee said. `` She said only that he had a gun on her. She couldn't get into specifics because she was so shaken up.''

Police had relatively little information about the robbery available on Thursday night.

Police described the suspect as about 5-feet, 7-inches tall, and of medium build, and said that he wore black gloves with red stripes.

Police are urging anyone with information about the crime to call the station at 508-695-7115.