Claw hammer attack during dairy robbery

DAIRY ROBBERY: An offender jumps on to the counter at Huxley Road Dairy during an aggravated robbery on Sunday night. The robber and an accomplice outside were captured on CCTV. The offender inside hit a shop attendant several times with a claw hammer before running off empty-handed. CCTV picture supplied

A shop attendant was hit several times with a claw hammer in one of two aggravated robberies in the city over the past few days.

The first robbery occurred at 8.30pm last Thursday night (April 15) at the Kaiti Dairy in Wainui Road.

“A male ran into the dairy armed with a golf club and went behind the counter to the cigarette cabinet, while a second male stayed outside and has acted as a lookout,” said Detective Kim Johnson.

“The shop owners saw the offenders and fearing for their safety locked themselves in another room. The male in the store was able to open the cigarette cabinet and stole several packets of tobacco. As he ran from the store, he dropped a number of them.”

The offenders got into a large dark-coloured SUV-type vehicle parked nearby.

“The incident was recorded on CCTV (closed-circuit television) and we are in the process of analysing the footage,” Det Johnson said.

The male who stole the cigarettes is described as 1.70 metres (5 foot 6 inches), tall and about 30 years old. He was wearing a dark-coloured hoodie.

“At this time, there is no description of the second male, who was the lookout.

“The recovered tobacco packets have been sent away for fingerprint examination.”

The second aggravated robbery occurred at 7.40pm on Sunday night at Huxley Road Dairy.

“A teenage male of average build ran into the store, leapt over the shop counter and immediately began attacking the shop attendant with a claw hammer,” Det Johnson said. “He struck the victim several times before other staff were able to intervene, and then the offender ran from the store without any stolen property.”

A second teenage offender, acting as a lookout outside and armed with a piece of wood, also left the scene.

Both were seen running away along Huxley Road towards Cavendish Crescent.

“This incident was also recorded on CCTV and has been analysed.”

Det Johnson said the male with the hammer was wearing a vest with a brown leather panel on the back, a black long-sleeved hooded sweatshirt, black Adidas tracksuit pants with three white strips down the legs, and had Adidas slip-on scuffs.

“He was very agile when jumping the counter and was able to run at pace even though he was wearing scuffs.”

The lookout was wearing a white or grey long-sleeved hoodie, long black pants and black gumboots.

“The shop attendant required medical treatment for his injuries.

“It is very concerning that dairies are being targeted with innocent victims being assaulted and robbed as they go about their business providing for their family and loved ones,” Det Johnson said.

“Members of our community will know of someone who has recently come into possession of excess tobacco, with the possibility of the offenders offering to sell the tobacco at a heavily discounted price.

“I am also confident someone will be able to identify the two males from the photos and description provided.”

Det Johnson said at this time there was no evidence to show that the two robberies were related.

“We ask members of the public who may have seen these offenders preparing for (the attack), or running away from either the Kaiti or Huxley Road dairies, to call us.”

They can call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or the non-emergency police number 105.

“This information will be treated in confidence and can be reported anonymously if required.”