Delivery boss shot at after man refused to pay for food in Hastings, police say

A delivery driver was shot at after an incident in Hastings on Wednesday night in which a customer refused to pay for food.

Two pizza delivery drivers were threatened and a boss shot-at near Hastings after a customer refused to pay on Wednesday night.

Detective Senior Sergeant John McCarthy, of Eastern District Police, said the incident occurred about 9.30pm, when a food delivery driver was dropping off an order to an address in Te Aute Rd, Pukahu.

He said a man at the property had refused to pay for the food and the driver left the address feeling intimidated.

The Pizza Hut driver’s boss had called police and drove to the address herself to collect payment, McCarthy said.

“While she was waiting outside for police, a person fired two shots in the direction of the woman and her vehicle,” McCarthy said.

The Armed Offenders Squad was called and arrested a 37-year-old who appeared in Hastings District Court on Thursday charged with theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and drugs charges.

A firearm and ammunition were found at the address and were seized, McCarthy said.

A spokesperson for Restaurant Brands, which owns Pizza Hut, said they were supporting the Hastings franchise team after the “extremely distressing” incident.

“We are relieved that those who were involved were not harmed,” the spokesperson said.

The man has been remanded in custody, with interim name suppression, pending further proceedings, with police saying they could not rule out further charges.

Another driver, from a different operation, said the growing number of deliveries - “hundreds a week in Hawke’s Bay” - are being done mainly on a pre-pay basis so that there is no cash-handling or need to get payment at delivery.