Hamilton McDonald's hit by armed robbers

Police are at the Rototuna McDonald's in Hamilton, which was robbed overnight. Photo / Belinda Feek

Robbers armed with an axe made off with cash and a cellphone from a Hamilton McDonald's early today.

Waikato police Senior Sergeant Phil Ruddell said it was one of two aggravated robberies in the city this morning.

A man was knocked to the ground and robbed of his Nike backpack at a park in Dinsdale about 3am. One of the two offenders was possibly armed with a knife, Ruddell said.

Then at 5.20am, three men went into the Rototuna McDonald's on the corner of Thomas and Horsham Downs Rds.

At least one was armed with an axe and a small amount of cash and a cellphone were taken.

All three men had their faces covered with bandannas, he said. No staff were injured.

Police are at the store, which is cordoned off with police tape.

Ruddell said police were still confirming details, but the car involved in the McDonald's robbery has since been found in nearby Chartwell.

It was the second break-in of a Hamilton McDonald's in little more than a month, following the aggravated robbery of the Greenwood store in early July. Offenders smashed through the front glass doors and also made off with cash.