Police received a report of a robbery in Newton Aycliffe this week, during which a cash drawer was taken.
The incident took place at Stevens Newsagents, Neville Parade, at around 8.10pm on Wednesday night.
A man is believed to have entered the store and made demands to staff to open the cash register, before removing the cash drawer himself and exiting the premises with it.
The cash drawer was located nearby a short time later.
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of robbery, and later released without bail.
Inquiries are ongoing.
Anybody with information relating to the incident is asked to contact Durham Police on 101, quoting incident number 377 of September 2.
