Police in Wellington are hunting for two men who used steel rods to beat a video store attendant before making off with gaming machines and cash.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell said the pair entered Video Ezy on Adelaide Rd about 7.20pm yesterday, demanding gaming machines and cash
while threatening the lone attendant with a pipe and steel reinforcing rod.
"The attendant complied with all directions but was shoved to the ground at which time both offenders proceeded to beat him around the arms, back and legs with the metal bars," Mr Borrell said.
He said the pair ran from the store with two X-Box gaming machines carried in black cases and some cash.
The attendant received significant bruising to both arms and legs along with welts across his back caused by the reinforcing steel bar, but did not require hospitalising.
Mr Borrell said it was a "vicious and cowardly" attack on a defenceless attendant who had been complying with demands.
"We are appalled by the needless violence associated with this incident."
He said police were intent on catching the pair and urged any members of the public who saw them or knew about the attack to contact them.
Police were today enhancing security camera images of the attackers which would hopefully help lead to their identification.
One of them was described as Maori or Polynesian, wearing a long sleeve grey hooded sweatshirt and scarf or something similar with eye holes that covered his face.
He was also wearing what appeared to be dark three-quarter pants and coloured sneakers with distinctive white trim laces.
He was carrying a 50-60cm long steel reinforcing rod.
The other was carrying what appeared to be a silver pipe or baseball bat.
He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black jeans and what appeared to blue coloured scarf around his face.
- NZPA
