KEY POINTS:
Police are hunting for four masked men who robbed a south Auckland service station, armed with a hammer.
The robbery happened at 8.45pm yesterday at the Challenge Service Station on Station Road, Papatoetoe.
Inspection head Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher said three men went into the service station while the fourth waited outside in a vehicle stolen that evening from Currath Road, Papatoetoe.
The first offender to enter the shop was armed with an orange handled hammer. He threatened the victim with it and demanded money.
"The other two offenders ran behind the counter and together removed the till and emptied it of its cash, leaving the coins
"One of the males can be seen on CCTV holding the till with bare hands."
The third offender removed numerous packets of tobacco from the shelves and placed them into a green plastic bag, he said.
All four left the scene in the stolen dark blue Nissan Torrano 4 x 4 with tinted windows.
The stolen vehicle was found at 2.20am today, abandoned and burnt out on the corner of Chestnut Road and Ramsey Street, Papatoetoe.
Mr Gallagher asked for anyone who has information in connection to this incident to contact police.
- NZPA
