Police rushed to an armed robbery at the Fredericks IGA Liquor Store in Kiama Downs about 4.15pm on Sunday, just five days after the premises was held up on Boxing Day.

In eerily similar circumstances to the December 26 incident, an armed thief yesterday stormed into the liquor store and confronted staff with a shotgun.

This was the third cruel blow to store owners Trevor Fredericks and Carmel Goldsmith, whose historic Jamberoo IGA store was destroyed by fire on December 17.

Lake Illawarra police Inspector Andrew Koutsoufis said there was no suggestion the three attacks were aimed at the family.

‘‘At this stage there is no evidence of a targeted attack, targeting this actual family,’’ he said.

‘‘Perhaps the location [is being targeted] because it’s twice in a couple of days.’’

During the Boxing Day robbery a man described as over 40, 180 centimetres tall, of thin build and Caucasian with a tan held up a male employee at gunpoint.

Yesterday’s offender carried the same description, however police couldn’t say whether it was the same man.

Less than two weeks ago a blaze tore through Mr Fredericks’s and Ms Goldsmith’s heritage-listed Jamerboo IGA building in the early hours of the morning.

The Fredericks family have occupied the building since 1961.

With the support of the close-knit Jamberoo community, the family has opened a temporary store in the old arts precinct building next to the Jamberoo Pub.

Anyone with information about either robbery is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.