Dairy owner scares off axe-wielding robbers

Police want to identify these two individuals. Photo / Supplied

Two axe-wielding would-be robbers were scared off their task by a quietly spoken Dunedin dairy owner at the weekend, and police want help finding the pair.

The men, thought to be in their late teens or early 20s, knocked on the door of the Lookout Point Dairy about 12.30am yesterday.

The shop was closed but owner Michael Mar was inside working with his wife and another staff member, and answered the door.

''The knocking was quite heavy. I looked out but there was nobody there.''

He looked again and saw two faces, covered by dark scarves, peering from around the side of his building.

''They said something to me but I couldn't hear them. So I walked inside and locked the door.''

A few seconds later there was more knocking and again Mr Mar opened the door.

This time the two men asked twice whether they could come inside. Mr Mar tried to shut the door but the taller man stuck his foot in the gap to stop the door from closing.

''I couldn't shut the door. And they started trying to push it open.''

Mr Mar pushed the man in the chest and tried again to shut the door, but again he couldn't. It was at that point the shorter man revealed a metre long wooden handled axe with a plain steel blade.

''I saw that and I just felt like, you know, it's quite serious. The two guys, it didn't feel so serious. But I saw the axe and it felt serious.''

With a renewed effort he managed to push the door shut and lock it, and told his wife to call the police. The two men then ran off.

Police said yesterday the men had been seen around midnight at the Hillside Rd Mobil service station, loitering before ''confronting'' staff members.

They ran from the station empty handed before knocking on Mr Mar's door 30 minutes later, armed with the axe.

Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen, of Dunedin, said in a statement yesterday while no property was stolen and no one was hurt, police needed to identify the two men ''before they try this again''.

''If you recognise either of the males, some of the distinctive clothing they are wearing, the black carry bag with the silver fern and words New Zealand on the side, or if you saw anything suspicious around these locations at the times above, police urge you to call the Dunedin Central Police Station on (03) 471 4800.''

Information could also be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.