Shotgun robber hits sports bar

INVESTIGATION: Police are on the hunt for an armed robber who held up the Kuripuni Sportsbar and TAB on Sunday.

A robber brandishing a sawn-off shotgun held up the Kuripuni Sports Bar and TAB in Masterton on Sunday, leaving bar staff highly traumatised.

The robbery happened at 8.25pm, just as staff were closing up for the night.

Police said the robber gained access to the building by concealing himself behind a back door, and then forcing his way in, brandishing what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun on a sling at a staff member who had gone outside to put out the rubbish.

Once inside, he threatened four staff, forcing them to hand over the weekend's cash takings, which he put into a small grey backpack.

Allan Pollard, the chief executive of Trust House, which owns the business, said although no staff were injured, all four were very upset. "We've got four staff who are highly traumatised. I'm disgusted. Some of them may not be able to come back to work."

The bar was closed yesterday, but would hopefully reopen today if enough staff were prepared to come back to work, he said.

The robbery was a "disgrace".

"I'm angry that some idiot would do it, and forget that we all live in this community ... we need to understand what these kinds of events do to people."

Staff had responded admirably during the robbery, doing everything they were supposed to do, Mr Pollard said.

The bar did not have a panic button, but was equipped with CCTV cameras, the footage of which was being reviewed by police.

Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said while no one was injured, the mental impact would not go away lightly for those involved. "Offenders who commit crimes like this give no consideration as to how this may affect a victim afterwards. They are driven by greed and ignore the consequences to others. I would ask our community to ask questions where they can, in an attempt to identify this person so we can prevent him reoffending and revictimising other hard working persons and businesses."

Robberies of this nature were rare in Wairarapa, and it was likely the robber had targeted the bar knowing cash would be available at closing time, he said.

The amount of cash stolen could not be disclosed for security reasons. The robber is described as a heavily built 40/45-year-old Maori about 183cm tall. He was wearing a red hoodie, a bandanna or scarf face-cover, black tracksuit-type pants and black boots.

Police did not believe recent robberies at the Mobil Service Station in Carterton and the Caltex Service Station at Solway were linked to the Kuripuni robbery. Cash-based businesses should regularly review their opening and closing practices and consider changing their routines to frustrate potential offenders, Mr Bysouth said.

"With another big weekend of socialising and gambling coming up, it should be a consideration of all businesses in the area of social entertainment to be vigilant around their customers and premises at opening and closing and to report anything they have any concerns about, or any other suspicious behaviour."

Anyone with information regarding the robbery should contact Masterton police on 06 3700378 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.