Auckland City Police are investigating two aggravated robberies within 24 hours, both by offenders wearing high-vis clothing.
The first robbery took place at 10.45am yesterday morning, at a shop on Church Street in Penrose. (Series of pictures attached to this release)
Two men wearing high-viz clothing and work boots entered the shop, armed with a black hand-gun.
They threatened the shop’s owner, but were chased from the scene, when the victim’s mum ran at them with a broom handle.
They escaped on bikes, one of which was a child’s size, lime-green bmx bike, and were last seen heading south on Great South Road, towards Otahuhu.
“Despite the fact that these two have been chased away by an elderly lady with a broom, this was a very serious armed hold-up, a gun has been pointed at an innocent person, who was just doing his job. We need to hear from anyone who recognises these two men before they try this again” says Det Snr Sgt Aaron Pascoe.
A second robbery by a single offender occurred this morning in Queen Street. At 8.05am, a man wearing a high-viz top entered a money exchange shop on Queen Street, and threatened the staff member with a handgun. He fled with a sum of mone, including foreign currency.
“We’re investigating whether the two robberies are linked but we need to hear from anyone with information, if you’ve seen someone wearing high-viz clothing and behaving suspiciously in either of these areas, please let us know” says Det Snr Sgt Pascoe.
Anyone with information please contact Auckland City Police Crime Squad on 09-3026557.
Information can also be given anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Beth Bates/NZ Police
