Robbers hit store in the eighth hold-up in month

Patel's Foodmarket was robbed by three men carrying weapons. Photo / John Stone

Another Whangarei shop has been targeted in an aggravated robbery, the eighth in Northland in a month.

Patel's Foodmarket on Kamo Rd was robbed by three men carrying weapons at around 4pm yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Shane Pilmer said the shop was robbed of cash and possibly cigarettes, and he could not confirm what weapons the thieves carried.

"The scene examination is yet to be carried out, but it wasn't a firearm," Mr Pilmer said.

Police and a dog police unit descended upon the intersection of Kamo Rd and the railway line, where Mr Pilmer said the dog tracked the offenders to Otangarei until the scent was lost.

Manager of neighbouring shop Tui Butchery Roger Moseley said he was sick of hearing about robberies.

"We didn't see anything," he said.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to the aggravated robbery of the Onerahi PostShop earlier this month.

The man demanded money from a staff member while holding a gun, and robbed the shop of hundreds of dollars on September 9.

Whangarei Police carried out a search warrant at a Whangarei address yesterday morning.

The man will appear in the Whangarei District Court today.

Northland District Criminal Investigations Manager Inspector Kevin Burke said the arrest shows police are determined to find the culprits for the string of aggravated robberies in the district

"Public safety is paramount and we will be ensuring that offenders for these crimes will be caught," he said.