Armed men with knife, spade rob Whakatane bar

Photo / Martin Sykes

Two men, one armed with a knife and the other with a spade, robbed a Whakatane bar last night.

Whakatane CIB Detective Sergeant Ross Everest said the men entered the Kopeopeo Turf Bar on James St, Kopeopeo, about 9pm.

"The pair have threatened bar staff before leaving the bar with a substantial sum of cash, fleeing the scene in a waiting silver/grey Nissan Primera driven by a third offender," he said.

Both were Caucasians aged in their late teens to early twenties, and about 1.89m tall.

One wore a grey/light green hooded sweatshirt or jacket, blue jeans and white and black shoes, and was of medium build with short brown hair and was clean shaven.

The other man was of thin build with short dark hair and was clean shaven. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with a thick black vertical stripe down the sleeves and dark trousers with light coloured shoes.

"We're appealing for anyone who may know who was responsible for the robbery to contact the enquiry team at the Whakatane police station," Mr Everest said.

- NZPA