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Three armed robbers have been arrested after members of the public chased them in a car.
Constable Lisa Tod said a man armed with a knife entered the BP Connect at Stortford Lodge in Hastings at about 11pm last night and demanded money.
He took a small amount of cash before leaving in a car with two other people.
But members of the public, who saw what was happening, followed the robber's car and alerted police.
Three people - two men and a woman - were arrested a short time later, Ms Tod said.
The small amount of money that was stolen was recovered, she said.
Senior sergeant Ross Smith said people should take down car registration numbers and descriptions but should not follow offenders.
"We don't encourage members of the public to get involved in serious crimes like this," Mr Smith said.
But he said without their help, police may still be looking for the robber.
Two men, aged 24 and 21, and a woman, 34, will appear in the Hastings District Court today charged with aggravated robbery.
BP spokeswoman Diana Stretch said the staff were receiving counselling.
- NZPA. NZ HERALD STAFF
