Police investigating Invercargill robberies

The two robberies happened within 50 minutes of each other. Photo / Supplied

Invercargill police are investigating two robberies in the southern city last night.

They happened within 50 minutes of each other. The first, about 10.50pm, was at the Tay St Night n' Day on the corner of Lindisfarne and Tay streets.

About 11.40pm, the Dee St Night n' Day on the corner of Dee and Hensley streets was also robbed and police believe the two are linked.

In each case a man has entered the shops and asked female workers for money, police say, and at the Dee St Night n' Day, the man brandished a weapon.

The threats were in vain however, as in both cases, the man left empty handed.

Both shop workers were left shaken but uninjured.

"Police have spoken to a witness who was walking on Phillip St soon after the Dee St robbery and he observed two males get into a parked reddish coloured sedan and then drive east on Filleul St towards Dee St," police say.

"It is unknown if these persons are in any way involved in the robberies and police would like to speak with these persons to eliminate them from the enquiry."

The man who entered the shops is described as a 178 centimetres tall, Caucasian and of medium build.

He is believed to be in his mid-20s and was wearing dark track pants and a light-coloured long-sleeved hoodie with a dark t-shirt over the top.

The t-shirt has a logo on the left breast and writing or a logo on the back.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Invercargill police on 03 211 0400 or Crimestoppers on 0800 500 111.