KEY POINTS:
Whakatane police are hunting a masked man who held up a takeaway restaurant with a tomahawk axe last night.
Detective Sergeant Ross Everest said the man walked into a restaurant in King St, Kopeopeo about 9.30pm armed with a tomahawk.
He threatened staff, demanded money, then was seen leaving towards the service alley at the back of the shop, he said.
Mr Everest said the robbery should serve as a warning to other takeaway establishments in the area who stayed open late at night.
Staff should be very observant and contact police if they have any problems, he said.
The man was described as a well-built Maori about 1.8m tall, in his mid 20s. He was wearing dark clothing and a mask over the lower part of his face.
Police want to speak to anyone who saw a person fitting that description in the area.
- NZPA
