Armed robber grabs cash from Pizza Hutt staff

Police are appealing for witnesses to a robbery at Whangarei Pizza Hut on Bank St. Photo / John Stone

A female Pizza Hut worker was robbed by a knife-wielding man in what was the second serious crime in Whangarei in less than 24 hours.

The woman, who had been working at the Bank St Pizza Hut store for only two months, was in shock, a store manager said.

"She doesn't want to work for a few days. She's quite shocked by this."

The robber entered the store at about 10.50pm Monday and brandished a knife in front of a male staff member before heading into a back office, grabbing cash from a female worker and running down Bank St towards the Whangarei CBD.

Earlier that day at 3am a Whangarei petrol station was ram raided and thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of tobacco products.

The Pizza Hut store manager, who did not want to be named, said Pizza Hut had closed for the night however the owner of the store was renovating the counter area and had been running back and forward from the shop to his car.

The manager said he had left before the incident happened but was still shocked.

"I have worked here for about five or six years and nothing like this has happened."

He said no other staff had taken time off work but everyone was shaken up following the robbery.

Police said they would not be releasing a description of the offender at this stage and could not comment on how much cash was stolen.

The Monday morning ram raid on Ruatangata Motors saw thieves make off with a cabinet filled with thousands of dollars worth of tobacco and cigarettes. The owner was asleep upstairs at the time. The thieves were in and out of the store within 60 seconds and no arrests had been made as of yesterday.

Police would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity near Pizza Hut or witnessed the robbery.

-Anyone with information can contact Detective Jacqui Willemse at Whangarei police on 09 430 4500 or if they want to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.