Police investigate cash till found on Tauranga rugby field

A man is captured in the moments of robbing a Tauranga dairy, shortly before ripping the till's cash box from the counter as he flees. Photo/Supplied

An empty cash till believed to have been used in a traumatic robbery of a Tauranga dairy has been found on a local rugby field.

Tauranga police Detective Sergeant Paul Barron said a cash till was found last night on the field at the Greerton Marist Rugby Club, Oropi Rd. However, police were yet to confirm if it was the same cash till robbed from the Cameronian Dairy, he said.

''There was a cash till located by members of the public who found it,'' Mr Barron said.

''We will be (forensically) testing the till and speaking to the people who found it. If anyone else has seen suspicious activity in the area, over the past few days, we would like to speak to them.''

Mr Barron said police were still investigating the robbery, in which two masked men entered the Cameron Rd dairy on Sunday evening and used a hammer to threaten the store assistant.

The main offender fled with cigarettes and cash after ripping the till's cash box from the counter.

Less than 24 hours later, the 14th Ave Dairy was also robbed. Police have not said whether they were treating both incidents as linked.

If anyone thinks they are able to help, they are asked to contact police on 07 577 4300 or alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.