A hair extension store clerk in Hawthorne was tied up during an apparent armed robbery in which thousands of dollars in cash and merchandise were reportedly stolen in broad daylight, the store owner said Wednesday.

The incident took place at the Baby Doll Hair Shop in 3300 block of Rosecrans Boulevard (map) at about 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the store owner.

Hawthorne police are hoping the public can help in identifying the people involved, who were not wearing disguises or masks, and were clearly seen on the store’s surveillance video.

The video showed a man and a woman were in the store looking at the merchandise when the man pulled what appeared to be a handgun from under his shirt and pointed it at the clerk.

He then jumped over the counter and tied up the employee before emptying the cash register.

While the man was behind the counter, the woman was seen on the video walking to the front of the store and letting a second man in before she exited.

Bundles of human hair worth thousands of dollars and about $700 in cash were taken in the incident, according to the store owner, who did not want to be identified.

“I was just in utter disbelief; I couldn’t believe that my employee had to undergo such a traumatizing experience. I don’t know what I would’ve done… I’m elated that she’s safe and she was unharmed,” the store owner said, adding that the hair can easily be sold on the street for cash.

The Hawthorne Police Department was investigating the incident, according to Lt. Aimee Yoshida.

Anyone with information was asked to call the Police Department at 310-349-2700.