Youths rob liquor store with knives

Two boys, aged 13 and 14, armed themselves with knives and robbed a Okaihau liquor store of cigarettes and cash, police say.

Whangarei police acting Senior Sergeant Stephanie Hudson said the two boys allegedly armed themselves with knives and covered their faces in an attempt to disguise their identities about 8.10pm on Friday.

Ms Hudson said the pair then went into the Okaihau Liquor Store and one allegedly pointed a knife at the chest of the male store worker before demanding money and cigarettes.

The pair ran off with a quantity of cigarettes and amount of cash. However, they were caught a short time later and arrested, the 14-year-old being referred into Child, Youth and Family (CYF) care while the 13-year-old was referred to the police youth aid section.

The store worker was understood to be uninjured by the robbery.