Sandringham Domino’s Pizza staff threatened with machete in late-night robbery

Auckland City Police responded to a pizza restaurant on Sandringham Rd after robbers struck on Tuesday night. Photo / 123rf

Pizza restaurant staff were allegedly forced into a cooler room after a machete-wielding robber stormed the shop before being caught on a late-night drive-thru run.

A Sandringham Domino’s Pizza worker caught up in the incident told the Herald he was confronted by three people with a “Viking sword” while on night shift yesterday.

The worker said the alleged offenders threatened him and one other employee.

Auckland City Police said they responded to the incident at a pizza restaurant on Sandringham Rd about 10.15pm.

Workers forced into cooler room

The worker said the offenders shouted at them and told them to hand over their money and the key to their safe.

He said the perpetrators then forced the employees into a chiller room.

“We locked the cool room and then they left after five, six minutes,” the worker said.

“We were scared and were not able to calculate what was going on around us.

“I was in shock,” he said.

He said they later called the owner, and the police arrived about five minutes later. They discovered the till that had about $1000 inside had been stolen.

The worker claimed the night shift in the area was unsafe, and said he was afraid he was going to be injured.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Lambarth confirmed one person armed with a machete entered the store and threatened the staff.

No one at the restaurant suffered any physical injuries.

Alleged offenders caught in drive-thru chase

Police said they were contacted a short time later, and a police camera operator identified a stolen VW Golf leaving the area.

A police unit later sighted the vehicle sitting in a drive-thru in Māngere.

Lambarth said the vehicle was successfully spiked as it left the drive-thru.

“The Golf has taken off at speed towards State Highway 1, and the vehicle has travelled south towards Papakura,” he said.

The car was spiked a second time as it exited the motorway network.

“It came to a stop on Beach Rd as all four tyres had been spiked and both occupants were arrested without incident,” Lambarth said.

The 21-year-old man driving the vehicle has been charged with aggravated robbery, failing to stop and receiving stolen property.

Police said he will appear in the Auckland District Court today.

The 17-year-old male passenger will be referred to Youth Aid over the incident.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the staff involved in responding to last night’s aggravated robbery, and our colleagues in Counties Manukau who sighted our wanted vehicle,” Lambarth said.

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