Petrol stations hit in overnight armed robberies

The Main St BP in Palmerston North was closed this morning while police conducted a scene examination after last night's robbery. Photo/Alecia Rousseau

Armed robbers struck at two North Island petrol stations overnight.

Two men entered a BP petrol station in Palmerston North at 8.30pm, one armed with what appeared to be a pistol.

The Main St serivce station, one of three BP outlets in Palmerston North, has been robbed twice before in the last 12 months.

Police were at the service station this morning, conducting a scene examination. The forecourt was taped off but the workshop next door was open for business.

One street away from the service station, the Forever Art Tattoo Studio on Broadway Ave was also reportedly broken into last night.

The studio owners put a plea on Facebook for anyone with information to come forward about the theft of cash and a laptop.

Just over two hours after the BP robbery, a masked man brandishing a weapon got away with cash after holding up a Mobil outlet in Levin. Unconfirmed reports said the man was wearing a clown mask.

Police said it was too early to confirm whether the two robberies were linked. A spokesperson said police were reviewing CCTV footage.

Anyone with information was urged to come forward.