A robber wearing a balaclava threatened a woman with a piece of metal and marched her to a cash point before robbing money from her purse.
And residents and shop owners have spoken of their shock in the wake of the incident.
Police said a man in a hoodie, jeans, and a black balaclava approached a woman in her 20s on Catton Grove Road after midnight.
He threatened her with a piece of metal and demanded money, before walking her to a cash point on Woodgrove Parade, where no money was withdrawn.
Jeyachandran Ratnasabapathy, owner of A & J Newsagents on Woodgrove Parade, said: 'The problem is people walking about late at night.
'You have people walking past and drug addicts, it's an opportunity.'
He added: 'The cash machine company checked and no money was withdrawn.'
CCTV footage shows a man and a woman walking up to the cash point on Woodgrove Parade just before 12.50am on Sunday, May 27.
One Catton Grove Road resident who has lived in the area for 14 years said: 'There's a lot of dangers about. You've got people outside all hours of day and night.
'There's drugs, and people drinking, who cause trouble.
'I sleep with ear plugs in or I can't sleep. There are noises at night at half 12 and half two in the morning.
'We've got kids trying to sleep.'
She added: 'The old lady who lived next door was burgled before she died. And there was a burglary up the end of the road.'
Leonard Nixon, 77, has lived on Catton Grove Road since 1981.
The former market trader said: 'I wasn't aware this had happened but it's rare I think in this area.'
He described the area as safe and busy, but said his house had broken into once, 'years ago'.
A woman working in a convenience store on Wood Grove Parade who didn't want to give her name, said: 'It's well lit here so I am surprised.
'It's usually safe at night and there are many families that live in the area.'
The man is described as white, with blue eyes, wearing a black balaclava with a blue hooded top and blue jeans.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the robbery to come forward.
Anyone with information should contact DC Gemma Hill on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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