A man is on the run after a Rotorua dairy owner was assaulted during a Christmas morning attempted robbery.
The woman was alone in the Hillcrest Dairy on Jervis St when a man came in about 10.45am demanding money and cigarettes. His face was disguised with only his eyes visible, the woman's husband said.
The husband said his wife had called him about 10 minutes before the incident asking him to go in as she was concerned about being there alone when the street was so quiet.
They had planned to just be open for three or four hours over lunchtime so people could get essentials, he said.
He said the man came in shouting "money and rollies". He then jumped over the counter and pulled out an extendable crowbar from under his shirt, the husband said.