Armed men trying to break in and rob Mobil on East Tamaki Dr in South Auckland got more than they bargained for last month when the service station attendant activated a fog cannon. The anti-crime device fills a room with thick fog leaving zero visibility for anyone inside. The device is being used by an increasing number of retailers to thwart robberies.
Armed and masked robbers have targeted an Auckland service station for the second time in a week.
The attack last night at the Challenge station on Swanson Rd in West Auckland came at the end of a weekend of mayhem for Auckland dairies.
In addition, three dairies were violently robbed between Friday afternoon and last evening. A shop assistant shop who was stabbed in one of the attacks needed surgery.
Swanson Five robbers wearing masks and hoods and armed with machetes and knives stole cash and tobacco from the Challenge station at about 9.45 last night. They fled in a blue station wagon.
Manager Sachdev Singh said police told him today they managed to retrieve finger prints.
When asked if the business was thinking of quitting tobacco, he said it couldn't do this because it was a big chunk of sales.
But they were thinking about security measures such as installing a fog machine. Upon being activated during a raid, the machine fills a shop with mist and stops anyone being able to see. Singh said the machines had deterred would-be robbers at other service stations.
More than 50 dairies around the country which police fear could be targeted by armed robbers are set to have "DNA" micromist spray installed that can be used to identify offenders as part of a $1.8 million police anti-robbery initiative.
A shop worker at Mt Albert's Harlston Superette required hand surgery after she was attacked with a machete during a robbery on Friday. Photo / Google Maps
Mt Albert The Harlston Superette on Richardson Rd in Mt Albert was robbed at knifepoint on Friday about 5.45pm.
A shop assistant was attacked with a machete, suffered a cut hand and required surgery at Middlemore Hospital.
Around $600 in cash was stolen from the till and a large quantity of cigarettes was taken.
The police said witnesses saw two males rob the dairy, run out and drive off in a silver Honda.
A panic alarm was activated at the shop counter and police attended directly and managed to gather forensic evidence.
Supporters of the Prasad family, who run the dairy, have set up a crowdfunding givealittle page to help cover the costs of the crime, as insurance excess is said to be too high to make a claim.
Onehunga Three masked robbers assaulted a dairy worker and a customer with an iron bar on Saturday at 5.55pm.
The employee at Pavan Dairy on Arthur St suffered a cut to the head.
The offenders, thought to be males, took off in a black Honda Civic, registration CYD857, which was earlier stolen from a man who was attacked and had his car keys taken.
People with information on the crime are asked to call police on 09 302 6557. Crimestoppers can take information anonymously, at 0800 555 111.
New Windsor Last evening at 6.15, the owner of Boundary Superette, at the corner of Boundary Rd and Dallas Rd in New Windsor, was assaulted.
The police said the robbers were two males, one armed with a machete.
