Two men - one armed with a hammer - punched an service station attendant in the face before stealing cigarettes.
Waikato police Senior Sergeant Charles Burgess said the two men stormed into the Challenge Service Station on Killarney Rd, Hamilton at 7.30pm yesterday.
When the men entered the store one punched the lone attendant in the face.
They then stole cigarettes and fled in a blue vehicle, possibly a Mitsubishi. No other details were available.
Anyone with information is urged to phone police on 07 858 6200.