At about 3pm today, Police were called to a robbery in progress at the Te Kowhai Food Centre in Waikato. Two men entered the food centre wearing masks and black clothing and robbed the store of the till and attempted to get cigarettes.
One man was carrying a baseball bat, and the other was carrying a shotgun, both were wearing masks and dressed in black clothing.
They threatened the store owner and the till was handed over, but the owner yelled at them when they tried to take cigarettes.
The men left the food centre with the till and got into a vehicle which headed towards Ngaruäwahia. Police picked up the vehicle and followed it to a one way bridge in Ngaruawahia.
Police stopped the vehicle on Hakarimata Road Just south of Huntly, and five people were taken into custody. A pistol was located in the stopped vehicle. The till was also located in the vehicle. Police are making further investigations into this matter but if anyone witnessed the events at the Food Centre today, or if anyone has any information about this robbery, they are encouraged to call Crimestoppers on 0800 500 111or the Huntly Police.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre