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Police are looking for a pair of “distinctive shoes” worn by an armed offender in a spate of bar robberies that left staff “shaken”.
Police believe three recent robberies in the Hutt Valley may be linked because they all involved weapons being used to demand money and other items.
Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Todd is asking the public for information on the pair of offenders who wore specific items of dark clothing caught on camera.
Police are searching for offenders in specific clothing following string of Hutt Valley bar robberies. Photo / NZ Police
One person was wearing a black beanie, a dark sweatshirt, long pants and a blue face covering.
The other wore a beanie, a black and white Nike brand men’s Dry Academy Soccer Track jacket, dark pants, a face covering and metallic-coloured shoes.
Todd described the shoes as “quite distinctive”.
“They appear to be a silver/metallic/chrome coloured sports shoe with a reflective logo or marking on the back of the heel. The brand is unknown. If you know someone who has worn these shoes previously, please contact us,” Todd said.
The pair were armed when they entered a bar on King St in the middle of the night and threatened employees last weekend.
“After making various demands, the offenders fled in a stolen vehicle later located abandoned on Sinclair St,” Todd said.
Police searching for an alleged offender wearing shiny silver shoes with a reflective logo on the heel. Photo / NZ Police
Staff at the bars were uninjured, but “shaken”.
Police are also asking for CCTV or dashcam footage in the King St and Sinclair St areas that may help their investigation.
“We are always concerned with any offending where firearms are involved and the investigation team is determined to hold these offenders to account,” Todd said.
Police have contacted bar owners in the Hutt Valley and across wider Wellington to talk them through safety procedures and offer support.
If you have any information regarding these incidents, or recognise the clothing in these images, contact police by calling 105, using the reference number 260110/6662.
Janhavi Gosavi is a Wellington-based journalist for the New Zealand Herald who covers news in the capital.
