A Waikato bar and a service station were held up at gunpoint just minutes apart overnight.
Waikato police Senior Sergeant Ray Malcomson said a staff member was closing up at Hamilton's Cock & Bull restaurant in Te Rapa when two masked people entered the premises just after midnight.
The pair pointed a pistol at the staff member, however, they fled with nothing.
Then about 12.15am, a person armed with a knife entered the BP service station at Ngaruawahia and demanded items from the sole attendant.