Man attacked with golf club over pizzas

Police say hitting someone in the head with a golf club is 'totally out of proportion' with stealing pizzas. File photo / Herald on Sunday

A delivery man was lucky to escape serious injury when thieves hit him in the head with a golf club to steal three pizzas in Palmerston North last night, police say.

The 52-year-old victim was called to deliver pizzas to a house on Brentwood Avenue just after 11pm, but found no-one was home.
He was leaving through the gate when a man struck him with a golf club twice - once on the thigh and once across the face, police said.

The offender was joined by another man as he made his escape towards Highbury with three pizzas.

A neighbour gave chase but was unsuccessful in catching up with the two men.

The thieves dropped the pizzas during the foot chase.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Palmerston North Hospital and was later released after receiving treatment for minor injuries.
Police will today speak to the victim, along with his employers and neighbours to try to identify the offenders.

Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan said the attack could have had serious consequences.

"Our concern is that this appears to have been planned by the offenders so that they could ambush the delivery man. Hitting someone over the head with a golf club could have had far more serious consequences and is totally out of proportion with the theft of a few pizzas."

The offender with the golf club is described as a European man, aged 17-20, of thin build and about 5ft 10ins tall.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the Brentwood Avenue, Croydon Avenue, and Farnham Avenue areas of Highbury last night.

Information can be given to Detective Constable Stephen Field at Palmerston Police on 06 351 3600 or on the anonymous police Crimestoppers number, 0800 555111.