Trio face robbery charges in Northland

Police have arrested three men who allegedly robbed a central Northland service station armed with an axe, a chisel, a large stick and other makeshift weapons.

The trio, two aged 20 and one 17, appeared yesterday in the Kaikohe District Court, where they were jointly charged with the aggravated robbery of the Shell Towai service station on State Highway 1, south of Kawakawa, on Wednesday.

Detective Sergeant Mike Foster, of Kaikohe, said a fourth man was still being sought for the robbery, during which a cash register with money inside and a sack of cigarettes and tobacco were taken.

The garage-owner's car was bashed with an axe but no one was injured.