Police have cordoned off Caltex on West Coast Rd in Glen Eden and arrested three people following an aggravated burglary early this morning.
Officers descended on the West Auckland service station around 12.25am.
Waitematā West Relieving Area Commander, Inspector Jason Edwards, said the alleged robbers “smashed their way” into the Caltex before the sole employee activated the fog cannon and moved to a secure place.
The till was stolen and alleged offenders fled in a getaway car waiting outside.
“Shortly after, the police Eagle helicopter located a similar vehicle nearby on Seymour Road,” Edwards said
“The vehicle fled at high speed at the sight of police and no pursuit was initiated.”
The vehicle was spiked on Henderson Valley Rd and three people were arrested. Edwards said another vehicle was abandoned nearby and is believed to be linked.
“Police enquiries are ongoing to determine if the three in custody were involved in the aggravated burglary,” Edwards said.
Photos from the scene show the night counter window smashed and the ground in front of the station strewn with glass.
It’s the latest in a string of petrol station robberies - one Caltex franchise owner has suffered eight robberies since the start of the year across his 11 stores.
The latest was the Western Springs Caltex, which was robbed in broad daylight on Sunday by eight men, some armed with hammers.
Chilling CCTV footage from that incident shows a frightened worker fleeing into a back room and trying to close the door as the men storm the counter.
The worker then activates a fog cannon and the men leave.
Franchise owner Sanjai Bagia said nobody had been injured but it was “only a matter of time”. The incident was worrying because it had happened during the day.
It was the eighth robbery across his 11 stores this year, but the first that had happened in broad daylight.
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