A firearm-wielding robber has stolen cigarettes and cash from a Northland dairy - the fourth robbery in which cigarettes have been targeted in recent days.
Police said a man pointed a long-barrelled firearm at the female owner of the Hilltop Dairy on Awakino Rd, Dargaville, about 4.15pm.The man made offwith cash and a number of packets of cigarettes before fleeing on foot towards Ranfurly St. The 49-year-old shopkeeper, who was alone in the dairy, was unhurt but traumatised by the incident. She was receiving help from Victim Support.
Northland police are now calling for information on the latest incident."Police need to apprehend the offender to prevent any further violent crimes by him and before any person is seriously injured," police said.
"Anyone who sees the offender is not to approach him, but to contact police."The offender was described as 1.7m to 1.8m tall, of thin to medium build. His age was unknown.He was wearing a grey-coloured hooded sweatshirt, a white peaked cap, sunglasses, grey long trousers and sports shoes.
He possibly had a red bandanna around the lower part of his face and neck.Police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area at the time.
They are particularly keen to speak to two men seen driving a beige or tan coloured twin-cab ute in the area at the time.Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jonathan Tier of Dargaville police on 09 439 3400 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
The robbery is the fourth targeting cigarettes across the country in recent days, including a "vicious and callous" attack on a service station attendant in Levin who was stabbed in the head, face, and arm on Sunday.
