Police flat out with armed hold-ups

Auckland police were kept busy with armed robberies over the weekend.

In the first of three robberies in west Auckland, a man leapt the counter of a Mobil station in Titirangi Rd, New Lynn, and held up two attendants with a knife on Saturday night.

Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie said the European man, who had a distinctive 2cm scar on his right cheek, had been seen hanging around before the 10.40pm robbery.

He jumped the counter, holding a silver knife, and confronted two male attendants, who handed over money.

Police were also investigating the aggravated robbery at 5.30am yesterday of the Gull Service Station in Henderson Valley Rd.

Two men disguised with scarves and hoodies were armed with a long knife, Ms Goldie said.

Late yesterday afternoon, a man demanded cash at a dairy in Rua Rd, New Lynn, and fled with money towards West Coast Rd.

Auckland police are also hunting the person who bashed and robbed a worker at Erox Adult Centre in Panmure on Saturday.

Manager John Hall was struck with a pistol and taken to hospital with head and neck injuries.

The sole customer in the store, a 25-year-old Pukekohe woman, told the Herald on Sunday she spent 10 minutes on the floor, begging the gunman to stop the attack.

"He was just yelling and screaming, then he went out the back with the owner and was demanding money."

Police said the robber was a Maori or Pacific Islander and wore a black balaclava and dark clothing.

Assistant manager Tama Gravenor said he was threatened by a machete-wielding robber about a year ago.

"It seems everybody is a target these days," said Mr Gravenor, who was not in the store during yesterday's robbery.

Extra staff had been put on duty.

Meanwhile, police arrested three men for the robbery and bashing of a couple at a takeaway shop in New Lynn on Thursday.

Four men went into the shop at 10.30pm and kicked the couple during the robbery.

Ms Goldie said the couple suffered cuts, bruising and swelling to their faces. The female victim was taken back to hospital on Saturday after suffering seizures.

Police are seeking a fourth man in connection with the attack.

Ms Goldie said police wanted to hear from any witnesses who may have been at a nearby TAB.

Police have also arrested a person for the Wednesday assault of a couple in a caravan park in Ranui.