Masked robber terrifies dairy staff

Police are hunting a masked robber who terrified staff at a Masterton dairy last night before fleeing with cash minutes before the shop closed.
Roberts Road Dairy owner Raj Patel said his wife Kini was "frozen with fear" in the middle of the shop when a man wearing a bandana across his face crept up behind her and demanded cash just before 8pm last night.
He said he was working at the time at another nearby dairy he owns and that he and his family also live in a home attached to the Roberts Road premises.
His wife screamed out for his father Subhash, Raj said, who immediately surrendered money to the robber while his mother Chandan called police from a backroom phone.
"My father was frightened for my wife. She was too scared to move and he gave up the money and the robber ran out of the shop," Mr Patel said.
His father said he was most concerned for the well-being of his daughter-in-law hearing her cries for help and obeyed the robber to keep her safe.
It is the second time in a year the dairy has been raided by robbers, Mr Patel said, and he is to immediately install security cameras at both his commercial premises.
"There was four robbers last time. They seemed younger and took only biscuits and chocolates. I ran after them and police caught one of them."
Mr Patel said it was only by chance his father was at the Roberts Road premises last night as he was helping him at the other dairy until last week.
"My father did the right thing last night you can't really do anything and he thought it best not to fight. He was just worried about Kini."
It was also fortunate his mother was able to call police while the robber was still on the premises and police were to use tracking dogs in an effort to locate the man.
Masterton police Detective Constable Barry Bysouth said last night the robber was described as a white male, aged from 20 to 30, and wearing a light-blue top and a yellow bandana.
He said the robber escaped the premises with an undisclosed amount of cash about 8pm last night and was last seen running from the shop down Roberts Road.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to the raid or passers-by who were in the area at about the time of the robbery.