Police investigate Queenstown knifepoint robbery

Police are investigating the knifepoint robbery of a Queenstown bottle shop. Photo / File

Police are today investigating the knifepoint robbery of a Queenstown bottle shop and they've thanked the public for their help in catching the suspect.

After fleeing Henry's Liquor Store on Shotover St just at 6.45pm last night the robber, still armed with the knife, the robber stole a BMW from a member of the public.

Dunedin police senior sergeant Darryl Lennane said the man suspected of the robbery stole cash.

He and another person drove off in the stolen vehicle but one of them was quickly picked up by police in the Mooney Rd area, where police patrols getting tips from the public had followed them.

Later in the evening the second suspect was found.

The Otago Daily Times reported the car crashed through a fence and came to rest in a field.

The newspaper said the second suspect was found by a police dog unit hiding in reeds, after a search using a helicopter and a thermal imaging camera and police today said thank you to locals who gave information.

Max Gooch, of Sydney, was a customer in the store during the robbery and told the Otago Daily Times he saw a man with blood on his face.

The bloodied man "didn't say a word" during the robbery, Mr Gooch said.

"I went to the counter to pay, and the guy behind the counter gave me a really weird look."

Mr Gooch "grabbed" his girlfriend and the couple left the store.

"The guy walked off really calmly."

Two men, aged 17 and 24, will appear in the Queenstown District Court this morning.