Closing in on the robber

PERSONS OF INTEREST: Police investigating the knife-point robbery of a Kaitaia bakery on Sunday morning are anxious to speak to the two women pictured.

The Kaitaia CIB is challenging Kaitaia to help catch the person who robbed Coast 2 Coast bakery on Sunday morning.

Detective Sergeant Beatson said he believed the two women pictured above were the key to making an arrest.

"Someone will immediately recognise these two," he said.

"Obviously we want to speak with both women, and are asking anyone who can name them, or with any other information, to contact us urgently."

A Cantonese-speaking interpreter had been flown from Auckland, he added, and it wasn't until the victims were able to communicate in their native language that the full extent, and harrowing nature of their ordeal was realised.

"These are hard-working people," he said.

"They work, live and provide a service in our community. They were threatened with extreme violence, held up at knife-point, all for the sake of a few dollars. Someone who goes into this shop and buys their lunch or morning tea will recognise these women. Help us catch them."

Information should go to the Kaitaia police station on (09) 408-6500, or, anonymously, to Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111, although local detectives would prefer to speak to people with information directly.