KIRRA Sports Club has become the latest target in the region's spate of armed hold-ups after an employee was attacked at gunpoint.

Yesterday morning as the club manager opened the front doors of the premises, a man dressed in black and wearing a balaclava grabbed him and demanded to be taken to the safe.

Once at the safe the assailant bound the employee, raided the safe and fled the scene on foot with the club's weekend takings.

Club president Glenn Wright said the manager was “very shaken”, but uninjured.

Mr Wright was upset Kirra Sports Club was the newest target of an armed robbery.

“It does make me angry with this spate of armed robberies on the coast at the moment,” Mr Wright said.

“I think we will have to look at security.”

Detective Inspector Brian Swan of the Burleigh Heads Crime Command said CCTV footage had been handed over, but requested more information from the public.

“Any offence involving firearms is of concern to us,” Det Insp Swan told the media yesterday.

“Any robbery involving a weapon is violent, even if physical violence may not be used.”

Patron of the club, 79-year-old Rita Bell, arrived for her line-dancing class to learn of the morning's events.

“I am very concerned – you are frightened to get out at service stations at night,” Ms Bell said.

“I think Surfers Paradise is getting worse.”

The robbery came as family, friends and the public prepared to farewell Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding in a service today from 11am.

“It is a very difficult time for any police officer, but in particular for detectives in this region,” Det Insp Swan said.

Anyone with information about the Kirra Sports Club robbery should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.