Tauranga police believe they have the gun used in an aggravated robbery of a Mount Maunganui video store but they are still calling for help from the public to find the men responsible.
Video Ezy in Owen's Place was robbed on on Saturday, July 26 about 7pm. Two men used a gun to demand money from the store attendants before they fled with the cash till draw and disappeared.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said police believed they had the weapon used but still needed help from people who might have unwittingly come across the store's cash till draw or possibly the men involved.
"We have in our possession a sawn-off rifle that we believe was used in the offending and that is currently being forensically tested to see if we can identify who has been in possession of it," Mr Turner said.
"It's extremely concerning when any offending occurs with firearms and any robbery has the potential to result in serious injury or fatality."
Mr Turner said police recovered the gun on Thursday but was reluctant to say much more about it while the investigation was still ongoing.
As well as the men involved, police were also looking for a silver cash till draw which was taken in the robbery.
"That potentially will have been discarded somewhere," Mr Turner said.
"Someone in the community may well have found that and not realised the significance."
Mr Turner said police dogs tracked the men down the railway line along Maunganui Rd past Bayfair Shopping Centre but lost the scent at the soccer grounds at Links Ave.
Last week, police released CCTV footage of the two men, who wore clothing which covered their entire bodies including their faces and hands.
Mr Turner said it was possible someone recognised the clothing the men wore, or became aware of who might be responsible.
"A lot of these sorts of offences are solved as a result of the community contacting us because they have either heard through their conversations or been told by offenders about their offending.
"We would very much like to hear from them."
People can contact Tauranga police either on 07 577 4300 or leave anonymous comment via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.