At approximately 2pm today Police responded to a report of a robbery at the Westshore Dairy on Alfred Street, Napier.
Three males had entered the dairy and a knife was presented at the shopkeeper.
The trio demanded money and tobacco products and fled with the stolen items on foot to a nearby street where a fourth offender was waiting for them in a vehicle.
A very observant member of the public noted the three men running and getting into the car.
He immediately rang Police and was able to give them a description and the registration of the vehicle.
It was not long before Police were able to locate the vehicle on State Highway 50 where it was stopped and the four occupants were taken into custody without incident.
All the stolen property was recovered.
Three men aged 20, 29 and 30, along with a 19-year-old female have been charged with aggravated robbery and the three men will be appearing in court tomorrow.
The quick thinking of the member of public who rang 111 ensured this very serious incident was brought to a timely and positive conclusion.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre