A Kaitaia teenager has been charged with the aggravated robbery of a Kaitaia service station shortly before midnight on Boxing Day. He made a brief appearance before a JP in the Kaitaia District Court on Friday, and was remanded on bail to January 15.
According to police the boy, two other males and a female entered the Mobil service station at around 11.30pm, the teenager pointing an air rifle (initially thought to have been a .22) at the two attendants and demanded "all your money."
One of the attendants walked out on to the forecourt, where he was confronted by the teenager's associates, one of whom swung a wooden bat at him. The attendant, who deflected the blow with his hand, returned to the building and began putting money in a bag, while the teenager continued pointing the gun at him and his colleague. He also grabbed a handful of $5 notes and four packets of cigarettes, while others helped themselves to chocolates and drinks. They then ran off and separated.
Police found the teenager, with five other people, walking on Lake Road some time later, seizing two packets of cigarettes, the air rifle and around $50 in $5 notes. The boy reportedly told police that he and his friends had run out of alcohol, and decided to rob the service station so they could get more.
Police have not revealed how much money was taken but it was believed to be a modest sum.
