Armed robbery at supermarket sparks AOS callout

File photo / NZ Herald

A man who robbed a Whangarei supermarket at gunpoint sparked an armed offenders callout in the city.

Police said a man armed with a short-barrelled firearm handed a threatening note to a checkout operator at Tikipunga Countdown on Monday night and was handed a sum of money.

He fled, and the armed offenders squad was later called to a nearby house.

They carried out a search but no arrests were made.

The checkout operator was unhurt but extremely shaken and upset, police said.

Police are yet to arrest anyone over a robbery at the same supermarket in August last year.

Just before closing time and as the last shoppers left the store, three men slipped through the main door and ran at staff near the checkout area.

One of the robbers, brandishing a pistol, demanded money as the employees were forced at gunpoint into the office.

They were made to hand over three bank bags containing thousands of dollars in cash.

Two other staff members who had been at the rear of the supermarket escaped and raised the alarm.