Men armed with tomahawk rob service station

File photo / NZ Herald

Three men armed with a tomahawk robbed a Palmerston North service station before taking off on foot with two charity collection boxes last night.

Three men have been arrested in relation to the robbery, which took place at the Mobil Service Station on the corner of Tremaine Ave and Rangitikei St, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said.

"All three had their faces covered and one of them presented a tomahawk and demanded money from the attendant.

"The men then decamped from the scene by foot with an unknown amount of cash as well as two charity collection boxes and headed in the direction of Coronation Park."

Police found a tomahawk at the park yesterday and found one of the charity boxes on railway lines, Mr Sheridan said.

"This morning four search warrants were also executed at addresses in Palmerston North and items were seized including clothing believed to be worn by the offenders during the robbery."

The men, two aged 18 and one aged 17 were jointly charged with aggravated robbery with one of the 18-year-olds and the 17-year-old also charged in relation to vandalism at the Highbury Community Policing Centre on Tuesday evening, Mr Sheridan said.

"Nineteen windows were smashed at the centre and graffiti scribbled on exterior walls."

Four or five people were responsible for the damage, Mr Sheridan said.

"The dollar value of the damage is currently being assessed and further inquiries are underway to identify the others responsible for the damage."