Hammer-wielding robber still on run from police

Police investigations are ongoing into Friday's attempted aggravated robbery at a Waipukurau scrap yard. Photo / Duncan Brown

Confidence is high that a hammer-wielding man who robbed a Central Hawke's Bay scrap yard and injured its manager will be caught.

Police traffic and dog squads were sent to the Waipukurau branch of Scrapit HB on Cook St after it was robbed about 1.30pm on Friday.

A man had walked into the yard with a hammer and bag and asked manager Chris Beddis for money.

Mr Beddis defended himself with a broom, but was injured by the hammer during a struggle with the offender.

Police have not yet located the offender, who left the scene on foot down Cook St towards SH2.

He was described as a male Maori, aged 19-20 years, 5ft 10 and of stocky build. He was wearing a black hoody possibly with white stripes down the sleeves, tight black pants and a woven black scarf covering his lower face. He was also wearing dark sunglasses.

Scrapit HB owner Des Bristow said although the culprit had not been found yet, he was optimistic they would be located soon.

"At this stage I am confident that progress is being made in identifying the person", he said yesterday.

Given the circumstances around the incident - particularly the time of day - he thought the robber had chosen the scrap yard at random, and thought it would be a one-off event.

However the security measures in place at the scrap yard would be reviewed following the incident.

Mr Beddis was recovering well and did not seem to have been too shaken by the incident, the owner said.

He had suffered moderate abrasions to his face, which required stitches, bruising to wrists and ribs.

"Some people would fall to bits but Chris just got on with it." Mr Bristow said.

"Many hurdles are chucked at us in life. This was just another one. It's a sad sign of the times . . . it's not the New Zealand way."

Mr Beddis had been in sole charge of the yard for about 4.5years. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Yesterday a police spokeswoman said the only comment they could make was that investigations were ongoing into the incident.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Mike Signal or Detective Constable Damon Horrocks of Hastings Police on 06 873 0500.