Armed robbers snatch hostage

The assistant manager of an Auckland appliance store was followed home from work, snatched at gunpoint, and then forced to return to his premises to open the safe in a dramatic and sinister robbery last night.

Witnesses told the Herald on Sunday two balaclava-clad men made off with cash, mobile phones and other goods from the Bond and Bond store in Henderson's Lincoln Rd after earlier taking the manager at gunpoint from his home.

Avi Samy, who works at King Dick's Liquor store beside Bond and Bond, said a young woman ran into his shop saying she had seen "people robbing the shop next door".

The 19-year-old tried to stop the armed robbers' getaway by blocking a driveway with a forklift.

"I just put the forklift in the middle of the road, grabbed the keys and ran off."

Mr Samy said the pair's red Toyota, smashed "straight into it" before taking off along Lincoln Rd.

He was unaware the men had been armed until he saw a rifle left in the assistant manager's car, which had been abandoned by the armed robbers.

Mr Samy said the hostage was shaken after the robbery.

"He was just distraught. He couldn't say anything. He was scared for his family because the hostages know where he lives."

No arrests have yet been made.