Locals on way to work thwart violent service station robbery at Kumeu

Customers trapped a would-be robber inside a Kumeu petrol station until police arrived. Photo / google

Two men driving to work barricaded an armed robber inside a service station during a violent early morning heist.

Daniel Paull has written a dramatic account on a local community Facebook page of how he and workmate Adam North thwarted a robbery under way at the Kumeu BP service station on SH16.

He said he spotted an attendant getting chased out of the station and being pushed over and persuaded the driver of his vehicle to turn back and take a closer look.

They ended up trapping one of the armed men inside the station that was quickly filling with smoke from an anti-burglary system.

"Well as we were driving past I saw the attendant getting chased out of the bp and get pushed over. We turned around after convincing the bro a robbery was happening. Went back and help the guy out. The bro shut the doors and we held the guy inside untill cops arrived. Crazy morning to b honestly," wrote Paull.

Another man phoned police. Bob Smith wrote there were up to three men involved in the botched robbery with the others escaping in a car.

Adam North said he and Paull held the front door shut with the man trapped inside and waited for police to arrive.

"Actually it was me and my bro that held the offender inside until police arrived...there was only 1 man [inside] not 3 and armed with screwdriver!" posted North.

Paull wrote it was a stroke of good timing they spotted everything unfold.

"If I hadn't been looking out the window as we were on the way to work we wouldn't have seen it happening."

West Auckland locals have quickly praised the men for their heroic action on social media.

Posted Kimmi Cameron:"Well done Adam North need more people like you to keep our communities safe:)"

"Thank you very much guys for keeping our community safe," posted Becky Walker.

Police said they were called to a robbery at BP Kumeu at 6.10am after two males - one aged 16 and armed with a screwdriver - tried to steal cigarettes and cash.

The service station attendant tried to stop one of the robbers and suffered hand injuries.

St John Ambulance said they were called to the service station just before 6.30am and took one person to North Shore Hospital with minor injuries.

A 16-year-old had been charged aggravated robbery, aggravated injury, wilful damage and unlawfully gets into a motor vehicle.

Waitemata Police detective sergeant Megan Goldie said they were now hunting for the other person who fled the scene in a stolen red 1994 Honda Civic, registration ABD201.

People with information were asked to call Waitemata Police on 09 839 0600 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.