Eastern Waikato Police are crediting widespread public assistance as playing a major part in enabling them to make a prompt arrest following the robbery of a Coromandel store yesterday.
Sergeant Andrew Morrison of the Whitianga Police said the arrest followed a man entering a Matarangi store armed with a handgun about 12.30pm.
"He's entered the store and seen a number of customers there so gone out and returned when the female shop keeper was alone.
"Presenting his gun the man demanded money and then fled, driving off with a small sum of cash."
Mr Morrison said community spirit was right to the fore immediately following the robbery.
"Neighbours saw what was going on and rang 111 straight away enabling us to set up a response, subsequent other calls led us to a number of properties on the Coromandel Peninsula.
"As a result of this information the Police Eagle Helicopter flew in an Auckland based dog handler and officers from as far away as Thames and other stations converged on Whitianga where the man was found at a motel and arrested."
Mr Morrison said the Coromandel's terrain played a major part in tracking the offender down.
"Though he travelled quite a distance we had a widely spread cordon, anyone who knows the area knows there's few roads in and out and it was a case of setting a wide net and being able to roll it up thanks to information from the public and very good investigative work."
An imitation firearm was found during a search following his arrest.
Charged with aggravated robbery the man will appear in the Hamilton District Court today.
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