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The injured owners of a Hamilton superette trapped and held a brother and sister who had moments earlier tried to rob them at knifepoint.
The siblings, a man 22, and his sister 17, have been charged with the attempted robbery of the Hamilton superette around 6pm last night and were to appear in Hamilton District Court this morning.
Detective Sergeant Robert Hermann of Hamilton CIB said the pair entered the Melville store, on the corner of Ohaupo and Normandy Road, shortly before 6pm armed with a knife.
The pair threatened the husband and wife proprietors before assaulting them, Mr Hermann said.
"A brief struggle ensued before the victims managed to escape out a side back door which was locked by some passers-by.
"The offenders locked the front door and helped themselves to confectionary and cash within the store," he said.
The male victim, bleeding from a head wound suffered after a fall, kept the brother and sister trapped with help from members of the public until police arrived.
Armed police negotiated for about 30 minutes before the pair surrendered, Mr Hermann said.
The male shopkeeper was taken to Waikato Hospital for treatment of his head wound, his wife also required treatment for a cut.
"Neither of the victim's injuries was life threatening," he said.
Police praised the efforts of both the store owners and passers-by.
Inspector Rob Lindsay said police advised extreme caution in such situations but the people's actions deserved recognition.
"We commend the store owners, and the passers-by who came to their aid, who made an immediate assessment of the situation and acted accordingly," he said.
- NZPA
