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A 14-year-old boy was among those held up at gunpoint as he worked in a dairy to earn money before school today.
An armed robber hit three service stations and a dairy in a 45-minute crime spree across Auckland.
Armed with a black pistol and a large knife, he escaped with cash, cigarettes, phone cards and confectionary.
Police have confirmed the teenager was "traumatised" by his ordeal last night, but also praised him for yelling to other staff in the store to: "Stay back. He's got a gun."
All four robberies happened within a 45 minute spell from 6.30am yesterday.
When the man entered the dairy he picked up sandwiches and Crunchie bars while waiting for another customer to leave.
He then pulled out his gun and pointed it at the teenager and demanded money. He made off with about $300 cash, about $300 worth of Pall Mall cigarettes and some international phone cards.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Breach said the man struck first at a service station in New North Road, Mt Albert, at 6.32am.
A few minutes later he hit a service station in nearby Great North Road and just after 7am robbed a petrol station in Park Road, Grafton.
His fourth target was a dairy in Gladstone Road, Parnell, at 7.15am.
The robber was described as a light-skinned Maori or Polynesian aged between 30 and 40, with a slim to medium build and between 162cm and 170cm tall.
He wore blue jeans and a black hooded top with the word "chemical" inscribed on it.
Police wanted to hear from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity today, or in the last couple of days.
The robber must have had a vehicle to travel between the three service stations and dairy, police said.
Anyone with information can ring police on 302 6789.
- with NZPA
