Police are appealing for information following an aggravated robbery of a Victoria Street jewellery store around 2pm Saturday 6 May.
Police can confirm five people have been charged following the robbery.
Four males entered the premises and smashed display cases, stealing several items, while a fifth male remained in the vehicle parked outside the business.
Two 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old, along with two youths, appeared in Wellington Youth Court on 8 May on a number of charges, including aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to stop.
The two youths are due to appear in Manukau Youth Court on 22 May.
The remaining three offenders have been remanded in custody, to reappear in Wellington Youth Court on 16 May.
This robbery occurred in a central Wellington street on a busy Saturday afternoon, and we know that many people will have witnessed the incident as it unfolded and may have information which could assist our ongoing investigation.
At least two witnesses approached the offenders as they left the jewellery store in an attempt to intervene. The witnesses were threatened and one was assaulted.
Police can also now confirm that two stolen vehicles were used in an attempt to flee following the robbery.
The car used in the robbery - a silver Honda Civic, registration HSP42 - had been stolen from Mt Eden in Auckland on 5 May and was abandoned by the offenders in Inverlochy Place, Te Aro following the robbery.
The offenders got into a second car in Inverlochy Place - a Silver Mazda Premacy, registration EUE946 - and headed north on State Highway 1. This car had been stolen earlier in the day from a Maupuia address.
Police located the car at Ngauranga Gorge and attempted to stop it, however it fled from Police and was pursued through Newlands and Johnsonville, before being stopped at the Paremata roundabout, where the offenders were taken into custody.
As the car fled from police, a number of items were thrown from the car towards pursuing police cars, including jewellery, hammers and tyre irons.
We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the exchange of cars in Inverlochy Place, as well as anyone who witnessed the car being pursued by Police along State Highway 1 and through Newlands and Johnsonville, or who may have seen or picked up items thrown from the fleeing car by the offenders.
We are also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen either of the two cars in the Eastern suburbs or central city before the robbery took place at 2pm.
Information can be shared via 105 – either by calling or going online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 ‘Update Report’ – quoting file number 230506/7938.
Alternatively, you can report any information anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre