Armed robber targets dairies

By KELLY BLANCHARD in Rotorua
The owner of the Eastside Food Centre in Rotorua summed yesterday up by saying "it wasn't a good day for the Kumars".

Two Rotorua dairies, both owned by people with the surname Kumar who are not related, have been held up by the same armed robber.

While both attempts to get money out of the dairy owners failed, the robber has left the victims shaken and angry.

The robber went to the Eastside Food Centre, on the corner of Coulter and Te Ngae Rds, at 7.20am yesterday. He demanded money but the door to the safe jammed and owner Jay Kumar could not get any cash out.

Mr Kumar said he was getting used to being robbed, having gone through almost exactly the same ordeal in January.

"It's a normal day for me," he said.

Yesterday's robber left in a 1995 silver Mitsubishi Galant, registeration CHD797, that was parked outside the shop.

Twenty minutes later the same man went to Lynmore Dairy on Lynmore Ave wielding a knife or a screwdriver and demanded money.

Dairy owners Bipin and Barshila Kumar were opening the shop for the day when the man came in.

Mr Kumar was at the rear sweeping when the man went up to him and demanded money. Mrs Kumar was behind the counter.

Mr Kumar waved the broom at the robber, yelled "help, help" and ran out of the dairy to see if anyone was around.

"I was frightened so I ran out for help."

Mrs Kumar said she realised her husband was being threatened by the robber when she heard him yelling.

"I was too frightened. I couldn't move. I just froze."

Without being able to get cash quickly, the robber was again frightened off. He got into the same car, did a U-turn and headed towards Tarawera Rd.

Mrs Kumar said the robbery had not only left her and her husband frightened but also out of pocket.

They had to close the dairy for two hours yesterday during their busiest time while police interviewed them and examined the scene.

"But if this man is caught, then it is better for the community," Mrs Kumar said.

The man is described as Maori or Pacific Islander, about 180cm (5ft 9in), clean shaven and with short curly hair. He was wearing a pair of grey track pants, a white sweat top and his face was covered with white fabric.

Detective Sergeant Garry Hawkins of the Rotorua police said quite often aggravated robberies were solved with help from members of the public. He urged the public to call police if they had information on 0800 TIPOFF (0800 847 633).