Counties Manukau Police have commenced an investigation following two aggravated robberies on Sunday evening.
Just before 5:00pm on Sunday 31 August, three men entered the Pokeno Supermart and Icecream parlour on Great South Road, Pokeno. A store attendant was assaulted with a weapon and a struggle ensued as all three offenders went behind the counter. Cash and cigarettes were stolen before the store attendant was able to push the offenders out of the store. There were no customers in the store at the time of the robbery.
Just over an hour later, just after 6:00pm, the same three men arrived at the Hakanoa Street Dairy in Huntly. Two of the men entered the store while one stayed in the car and a cash register was stolen as well as packets of tobacco.
In both incidents the three men fled the scene in a stolen car, which has since been located in Scurr Place, Huntly. The car, a silvery green 2001 Toyota Camry, was stolen during a burglary in Opaheke overnight on Saturday 30 August.
The CCTV photos attached show the three suspects in the Pokeno Supermart.
The first suspect, the driver of the vehicle, is described as a male of solid build. He is wearing grey sweat pants to the knee, a grey sweatshirt and blue shoes with black socks. He is also wearing a baseball cap, gloves and sunglasses.
The second suspect is also described as a male of solid build and was the front seat passenger of the vehicle as it fled the scene in Pokeno. He is wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and possibly has a bandana covering his face. He is also wearing a blue or purple shirt that comes lower than his sweatshirt and shorts with a flowery or camoflouge pattern. He has black socks with light coloured shoes.
The third suspect has a large tattoo along the front of his left forearm and visible tattoos on both his upper arms. He is described as slimmer than the other two suspects. He is wearing a blue t-shirt, long dark/black pants (not necessarily blue/purple as they appear in the photo) and a cap with a sticker on the peak. He is also wearing running shoes.
The suspects are also carrying red New World carry bags.
The man seen in the images wearing a purple sweatshirt and purple beanie is the store attendant and is not to be confused with the suspects.
Detective Sergeant Chris Robson says the suspects have distinctive features and clothing seen in the photos.
“People who know these suspects will recognise them in the photos,” he says. “We are interested in hearing from anyone who can tell us who might be in these photos. One of the suspects has a number of tattoos which will be familiar to those who know him. Additionally a distinctive pair of Adidas shoes is also seen in the photos.”
Anyone who has information about the two aggravated robberies or can identify the suspects is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Chris Robson on 021 192 1537 (Counties Manukau) or Detective Chris Cummings on 07 211 7291 (Waikato).
Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Kimberley Mathews/Communications Manager, Counties Manukau Police
021 192 0717
