Strandbags targeted in botched theft

Police at the scene of a robbery in Tauranga. Photo/George Novak

Updated 2.35pm: A 24-year-old female has been charged with theft and possession of a weapon.

She had a knife while shoplifting at Strandbags on Devonport Rd around midday, a police spokeswoman said.

She would appear in Tauranga District Court this afternoon.

Earlier: Police responded to a theft at Strandbags on Devonport Rd around midday today.

A police spokeswoman said a community patrol volunteer alerted police to three people entering the shop and taking off with some goods.

Police have identified the suspects and were working to locate them.

Earlier: Reports are coming in of an attempted robbery at a luggage store on Devonport Rd.

A police communications spokeswoman said police were responding and she had no further details yet.

However, she said it appeared there were no injuries.

A Strandbags staff member, who was just about to start her shift when the attempted robbery happened, said a woman had been caught trying to steal an unknown item from the store and the store manager tried to stop her.

The staff member believed a knife had been pulled out.

The woman suspect ran out of the store, the staff member said, and the store manager was uninjured but shaken up and was taking rest of the day off.

The manager was the only staff member in the shop at the time of the attempted robbery.