Police will allege four people, one armed with a knife, threatened staff in a food outlet within a shopping complex in Queen Elizabeth Drive about 11.40pm.

Detectives attached to New England Local Area Command, with assistance from Armidale Target Action Group, were stationed within the complex as part of a planned police operation in response to recent armed robberies in the area.

Police immediately arrested the quartet without incident.

Two employees were present but were not injured.

The men, one aged 22 and two aged 19, and a 17-year-old boy, were taken to Armidale Police station and charged with aggravated armed robbery.

A further charge of aggravated armed robbery was laid against the 22-year-old man and one of the 19-year-old men in relation to a separate alleged armed hold up that occurred at an Armidale business on September 2015.

The four have been refused bail and will front Armidale Local Court today.

Investigations into recent robberies and home invasions will continue as part of Strike Force Inga.

Anyone with information about the recent incidents is urged to call Armidale Police on 6771 0699 or Crime Stoppers.