Armed men hunted after staff member bashed in liquor store attack

Liquorland in Cameron Rd was the target of an armed robbery. Photo/Andrew Warner.

Police are hunting for at least two armed men who they say smashed their way into a Tauranga liquor store and assaulted the store assistants.

The offenders made their way into Liquorland on Cameron Rd at 8.44pm on Thursday.

Police told the Bay of Plenty Times one of the staff members was assaulted, suffering deep tissue leg bruises. He was taken to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance.

Police responded to the scene with sniffer dogs shortly after the two, possibly three, men fled the store.

Liqourland chief executive Brendon Lawry said the robbery was "extremely distressing".

The assaulted staff member was badly bruised but had been checked out of hospital and was now at home recovering.

Liquorland was working with police, providing CCTV footage, to help with the investigation to find the would-robbers.

"As the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further," he said.

Police said nothing was taken from the store.