Man robs station using his hand as pretend pistol

A would-be robber using his hand as a pretend pistol was caught by police dogs just 300m from the Wanganui service station he held up last night.

Police say the man entered the Shell station in Dublin St about 11.30pm.

"He didn't have a weapon, he made out that he was carrying a weapon under his singlet -- a firearm," Sergeant Damon Evans said.

"He took a sum of money from there and left the store. He was found by police dogs nearby with the money."

The man was not injured.

Mr Evans said police were called to the incident quickly, meaning the man was only about 300m away when found.

"He was just caught hiding nearby in some bushes on the riverbank."

A 26-year-old man is to appear in Wanganui District Court today charged with aggravated robbery.

- NZPA