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.
![Ngaruawahia's BP was the target of an armed robbery overnight. Cash and cigarettes were taken. Photo / Belinda Feek](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/5EEWGYJ67FMCP77KQIGHFWZ5ME.jpg?auth=833b227cf3fed28830ff3aff5b6fb96ea93855fe136ea59e0083428e55d57ad1&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)