Robbers stab shop owner eight times for $200

A takeaway shop owner was stabbed at least eight times for just $200 by four youths who arrived and fled on bicycles.

Detectives yesterday talked through last Sunday's robbery with Papakura's Opaheke Takeaways' owner Richard Tang at the shop in the hope he can help them catch the four.

Uniformed policemen went door-to-door asking neighbours if they had witnessed anything or knew who the attackers were.

Mr Tang, 25, showed his wounds to the Herald yesterday.

The worst, a deep cut on the left of his torso, nicked his lung.

He also has at least seven cuts to his left arm, which all needed stitches.

Papakura Detective Sergeant Dave French said Mr Tang and his 29-year-old cousin Susan Zhong had been in the back of the shop just before 8pm when they heard a noise outside.

Mr Tang went to investigate but did not see anyone.

They then heard the shopfront buzzer and saw two youths wearing bandannas around their necks in the doorway. Mr Tang asked what they wanted but they did not reply and walked out of the shop.

He returned to the back of the store but Ms Zhong saw the pair walk around the corner to the back of the store and she called to her cousin.

"He opened the back door, took one step outside and saw three males running towards him," Mr French said.

"He turned around to go back in the shop but they caught up to him.

"He said one of them grabbed him with one arm and started stabbing him with the other. He said two of those guys pushed him back into the shop, into a corner, he says they both had knives, they both stabbed him."

Mr Tang told them to "take whatever you want". Meanwhile, Ms Zhong, who speaks limited English, heard the commotion in the back and went outside to call police on her cellphone but was confronted by two men, one with a knife who made stabbing gestures at her before motioning her back inside.

She crouched in a corner but the men, unable to open the till, motioned for her to do so before taking the money.

As this was happening, one of the men in the back with Mr Tang ran to the front of the shop to check on his associates while the other man held the shop owner in the corner. He came back soon after and stabbed him again.

One of the men demanded Mr Tang's keys but he threw them in a nearby rubbish bin and he was stabbed again before the pair ran off.

All four left on bikes in the direction of Short St.

Mr Tang was taken to hospital where he stayed for two nights before discharging himself, despite doctors suggesting he stay longer.

The shop has been closed since the incident and will probably not reopen for another week as Mr Tang recovers.

The youths, believed to be aged between 14 and 18, wore dark clothing.

"We've had no direct information at the moment about who they are," Mr French said.

"Obviously we suspect that they probably don't live too far away.

"Even if people didn't see anything, they may wish to nominate some local kids that people may have noticed, a particular group of kids that get around on BMXs and maybe cause trouble in the neighbourhood."

* Anyone with information can contact Mr French on (09) 295 0220.