Owner rethinks purchase
A Whangarei man who rebought the Otaika Lotto and PostShop so he and his daughter could work together is questioning the decision after they were robbed by two men with a sawn-off shotgun.
The two armed young men walked into the shop in Otaika Rd about 4.35pm yesterday and demanded money from the store workers before fleeing. The two are believed to have run off behind the Otaika shops and along an alleyway to Ashley Ave. A police dog was called to track them but by late yesterday no arrests had been made.
The shop's owner, who will only be identified as Martin at this stage, was in the store at the time and said it was frightening to be confronted by the armed pair.
"It was very traumatic. It's very scary when you've got a family member involved like this, too. Family is pretty important, but so are your staff and we are all coming to terms with this."