Trio in court after Z petrol station robbery

Three men have appeared in court after a petrol station robbery.

Pukawa Allan Shelford, 17, Ari Jean Higgins, 22, and Kelvin John Guttery, 20, appeared in Tauranga District Court facing aggravated robbery charges yesterday.

The men were arrested after the Z Service Station at the corner of Cameron Rd and 11th Ave was robbed. About 10.10pm on Sunday, two men entered the station with their faces covered by bandanas - one brandishing a knife and the other a knuckle duster.

Senior Sergeant Shannon Clifford said the robbers threatened the shopkeeper and took money, cigarettes and food before running away down St John St and getting into a getaway car.

The vehicle was then driven off at speed down 11th Ave towards Waihi Rd.

Court documents allege the three men robbed the service station of cash and cigarettes, stole $130 of petrol from the same station and also stole $111.42 of petrol from Caltex Tauriko. Tauranga Z Service Station owner Dave Gillies said the staff member who was threatened was not harmed but was shaken by the incident and would be offered counselling and time off to deal with it.

Staff were trained to give robbers what they wanted, he said.

"It's been a long time since we've had anything like this," Mr Gillies said. "It certainly sends ripples through the team."

The three were remanded in custody until their next appearance on Thursday.

If anyone has any further information, phone acting Detective Sergeant Schrafft at the Tauranga police station on 577 4389, or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.