The smash and grab robberies in the Waikato region took place within 10 minutes of each other. Photo / File
The smash and grab robberies in the Waikato region took place within 10 minutes of each other. Photo / File
Two aggravated robberies which occurred within minutes of each other in the Waikato are not linked, police say.
In the first incident, at Z Ngatea about 4.20am today, Waikato police senior sergeant Robbie Hermann said the group of offenders -- one armed with an iron bar -- smashed in thedoor before taking an unknown quantity of cigarettes and cash from the scene.
The staff member who was working at the time managed to lock himself in a nearby room and was uninjured.
Mr Hermann said five people were involved in that robbery but it's still being determined how many offenders went into the service station as well as their descriptions.
Police found the car used in the robbery - which had been earlier stolen from Auckland - dumped in the town. The group then fled in another vehicle.
Ten minutes later, in Matamata, two men were involved in a smash and grab at the Caltex service station in the town where an amount of cigarettes were also taken.
Mr Hermann says it is unlikely the two incidents were connected, "unless they used a jet plane or something to get there".
Anyone with information in regards to the two robberies is urged to contact Waikato police on 07 8586200.
