Three men with weapons robbed the Challenge petrol station on Hills Rd, Edgeware, on Sunday night.
The man working at the petrol station at the time said the men stole cigarettes. The worker did not wish to be named.
"I had no time to protect myself and hide in the office," he said.
"There was yelling, and it was too scary, and I was yelling as well, I was trying to encourage myself and scare them."
The worker said people in the area resorted to robbing the station because they were addicted to cigarettes and could not afford their expensive habit.
"I mean, to be honest, these guys who live in [this area] don't have jobs... and it's very common for poor people to smoke and they don't have money," he said.
The worker was scheduled to work on Monday but was told to stay home and rest.
He said he did not know if he would ever be ready to go back to work.
Police are still investigating the robbery.
A nearby resident, who saw the men flee, said they looked to be teenagers or in their early 20s.
The owner of the Challenge petrol station, Da Wang, declined to comment.
