The City's Choice Dairy in Palmerston Road opposite the polytechnic was robbed at around 6.30am yesterday by a group of armed thieves, who stole vape and tobacco products and foodstuffs. Proprietor Vijay Gulati is pictured outside. Photo / Paul Rickard
The City's Choice Dairy in Palmerston Road opposite the polytechnic was robbed at around 6.30am yesterday by a group of armed thieves, who stole vape and tobacco products and foodstuffs. Proprietor Vijay Gulati is pictured outside. Photo / Paul Rickard
A group of youths armed with golf clubs and tyre irons robbed a city centre dairy as it was opening for business in Gisborne yesterday.
It is the second time this month a city dairy has been hit by armed offenders.
Yesterday’s robbery happened at around 6.30am at the City’sChoice Dairy, opposite the EIT campus in Palmerston Rd.
The offenders, who were disguised and armed with a variety of weapons - none of them firearms - entered the store, threatened the proprietors and made off with vape and tobacco products, the shop till and food items.
“The half a dozen young people went into the shop armed with tyre irons and golf clubs,” police said.
The man in the store at the time of robbery was shaken up by what happened but was not injured.
“My brother-in-law was alone in the shop at the time, opening up for the day, when six or seven robbers came inside,” proprietor Vijay Gulati told the Gisborne Herald.
“He was totally shocked by it and went to the back of the shop for safety.”
The robbers left the interior of the shop a shambles as they ransacked the shelves for merchandise.
The City's Choice Dairy in Palmerston Rd yesterday morning is the second Gisborne city dairy robbed by young offenders with weapons this month. Photo / Paul Rickard
Witnesses who saw the robbers said there were two cars involved.
Both were stolen and police later recovered the vehicles in the Elgin area, abandoned at a vacant property.
One witness had seen four people in each vehicle.
The cars were seen on Palmerston Rd at the Peel St roundabout shortly before the robbery occurred, and then shortly after the incident as the offenders made their getaway via Cobden St and Aberdeen Rd.
Another witness said one of the cars only just made it round the corner.
“We heard the screeching of tyres on the road and I saw the second car nearly spin out as it followed the first car round the corner, heading towards Roebuck Rd.”
Uniformed staff were on the scene quickly after the robbery and the store entrance was taped off.
Detectives later did a scene examination.
This incident follows a robbery at the Bridge Store in Roebuck Rd on Friday, June 5, at 8am.
On that occasion, thieves went into the shop - which has been robbed before - threatened the shop proprietors and made off with vape and tobacco products.
Again, they were armed with a variety of weapons, although not firearms.
A police inquiry into that aggravated robbery continues.
Police have asked anyone who might have information about yesterday’s morning’s incident to contact them on the 105 number or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“We are continuing our inquiries to try to identify the people involved,” a police spokesman said.
“People who are receiving these stolen cigarettes and vapes are only encouraging this type of behaviour, and they need to help us put an end to it.
“Members of the public have told us the proprietors of the City’s Choice Dairy are lovely people and this should not be happening to them.
“The same applies to the proprietors of the Bridge Store.
“Both shops are trying to provide a service to the public and were threatened and ripped off by youths in our community.’
