Police close in on salon robber

Police say they are closing in on an armed man wanted for a brutal attack on staff at an Auckland hairdressing salon last month.

The man, carrying a sawn-off shotgun, walked into the Rodney Wayne Hairdressing salon in the Shore City shopping centre on September 17.

After punching the receptionist in the throat and threatening other staff and clients with the weapon, the offender made off with a small amount of cash.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Libby said it was unusual the robber had targeted a hair salon as most clients paid by eftpos.

He said the robbery was brutal and the violence was unwarranted and the the offender appeared agitated and unstable.

Mr Libby said police were following "positive lines of inquiries" into the hunt for the attacker but would not give any other details.

- NZPA