Police are seeking the public's help to find a man wanted for a series of aggravated robberies in the Pakuranga area late last year.
Detective Constable Casey Broad, of Counties Manukau CIB, said it was believed the same man, described as a male European of skinny/medium build, with black hair, had been responsible for a spate of aggravated robberies at small businesses in the area between October and December 2012.
During the robberies he wore a distinctive black hoodie with a white logo on the front and a white mask or a white/grey bandana covering his face. In two of the robberies, he pointed a black pistol at the store owners and demanded money, while in a third he threatened owners with a knife. A fourth robbery attempt failed when the owners saw him on CCTV and stayed hidden at the back of the store.
"We are appealing for anyone who may have seen or heard anything relating to these robberies to come forward. Inquiries to date have failed to locate this offender and we are keen to find him as soon as possible."
Mr Broad says the four businesses targeted by the man included a discount store, liquor shop, a superette and a pizza franchise in Pakuranga.
The robberies include:
1. On 10 October 2012 at 9.15am, a man entered the Moshim Discount Store in Cardiff Road, Pakuranga, armed with a knife and demanded money from the store owner. Around $150 was placed into a plastic shopping bag before the offender left the scene on foot. He was described as a European of skinny-medium build, with black hair and a white-grey handkerchief covering his face. He also wore a distinctive black hoodie with a white logo on front.
2. On 20 October 2012 at 8.45pm, a male matching the same description with a white mask over his face, entered Thirsty Liquor in Cascades Road, Pakuranga, before pointing a black pistol at the owners and demanding money from the till. Cash was placed into a plastic shopping bag along with two bottles of vodka before the man left the store and ran to the neighbouring Cascades Superette, where he attempted to rob the premises. However, he ran off empty-handed towards Lord Elsmore Park when the owners refused to emerge from the back of the store.
3. On 20 December 2012 at 11.30pm, an offender believed to be the same man, wearing a white bandana over his face, dark sunglasses and the distinctive black hoodie with the white logo on the front, robbed the Dominos Pizza in Johns Lane, Pakuranga. He entered the store and pointed pistol towards staff members and demanded money. Cash was placed into plastic shopping bag along with cans of 'V' that he demanded, before escaping on foot.
"Although the businesses being targeted in this case are small, they leave a big impact for the victims who are understandably left frightened and upset by their ordeal. That's why it's important we catch this offender before anyone else becomes a victim. Anyone with information that can help us can contact us directly, or anonymously through CrimeStoppers," Mr Broad says.
"Although some months have passed since these offences occurred, they are still very real to the victims and to the community. Allegiances also change as time passes, so it's likely that someone out there in the community will have information that is key to our inquiries, and we ask them to come forward so we can bring the person responsible to justice."
Anyone with information can contact Otara Police on 09 272 0900, or anonymously through CrimeStoppers, Ph 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Media contact: Ross Henderson, Acting Communications Manager, Counties Manukau Police, Ph 09 263 2702
