Gun-wielding man in alarming afternoon raid on dairy

CCTV footage of the heavily disguised man holding up the Arataki Superette yesterday. Photo / Supplied

A Mt Maunganui dairy worker was left traumatised yesterday after being ordered by a pistol-wielding robber to hand over cash and tobacco.

Tauranga police were last night hunting the gunman, who walked into the Arataki Superette in Ocean Beach Rd at 1.15pm wearing black clothing and a full-faced balaclava and pulled out what was believed to be a pistol.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said the robber drove off towards Papamoa in a small, dark-coloured saloon.

A store worker said the victim, who was alone at the time of the robbery, had been sent home in shock and was in no state to talk to media.

Mr Brazier could not say how much tobacco and money was taken.

"We're still working to find that out but obviously we want to hear from anyone who either witnessed this robbery or knows this offender. There's no question he would have told someone and we believe he was on his own."

Police had interviewed one witness who saw the man, described as 2m tall and of solid build, leave the superette.

"He's just done something pretty serious and it's always been my experience that they want to tell someone, especially if they think they could get away with it," Mr Brazier said.

"At the end of the day, we'll be using all of our resources to locate him and arrest him. If he wishes to talk to us about this before we do that, then that would be a lot better for him."

Neighbours of the superette were shocked at the robbery and one described its owner as an "absolutely lovely lady".

In 2009, a 16-year-old held up the dairy at knifepoint.