North Shore Police are investigating two aggravated robberies in the Torbay area, both of which have involved a gun and are believed to be the same offender.
CCTV footage of the first incident has now been obtained and is being released this morning (up now on Waitemata Police Facebook page) . Police are hopeful that someone will recognise the offender, who is described as being very confident in his offending.
The first robbery took place on Friday 15 July at around 2.30pm.
The lone offender arrived on foot at the Beach Road Mobil Station in Torbay.
He filled up a red plastic petrol container and then pulled his balaclava down over his face and walked into the service station building.
As the footage shows, he approached the attendant with the pistol presented and demanded money and cigarettes.
The offender is seen taking money from the cash tray, before fleeing. He was last seen running into a cemetery on Deep Creek Road.
At around 8.20am yesterday morning, a man fitting the same description and method entered a dairy on Stredwick Drive in Torbay. The offender showed the storekeepers a pistol in his hand, and demanded money and cigarettes. He put the cigarettes into his bag and then fled on foot, chased by one of shopkeepers into the Awaruku Reserve.
“We think that this is the same person and we’d like to hear from anyone who may recognise him in this video. Even though his face is covered, his body movement and clothing may be recognised by people who know him” says Detective Senior Sergeant Nadene Richmond, North Shore Police.
“Any robbery involving a weapon, particularly a firearm, is very concerning, and we want to stop this man offending as soon as possible. The man behind the counter at the Mobil has done a fantastic job of staying calm under the circumstances but no one who goes to work to make an honest living should be faced with this type of criminal behaviour” she says.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Shore CIB on 09 4775261
Information can also be private messaged to the Waitemata Police Facebook page.
Anonymous information can be given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Beth Bates/NZ Police