KEY POINTS:
Police have arrested two Countdown staff members for the aggravated robbery of its Botany Downs supermarket, and are searching for a third person.
The east Auckland supermarket was robbed late on Tuesday night when two men entered it, one causing a distraction while the other held up checkout operators with a machete.
Yesterday police arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
Both were employees of the Countdown store.
A 20-year-old from Otara and a 21-year-old from Glen Innes were to appear in Manukau District Court today charged with aggravated robbery.
Investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant Pizzini said police were still looking for Siaumau Lielua, a Samoan aged 27.
Lielua was suspected of being the principal offender in the robbery, Mr Pizzini said.
A search warrant was executed at his Flatbush, Auckland, address last night and evidence linking him to the crime was found.
Lielua was believed to be driving a silver Mitsubishi Diamante, but it was not the vehicle used in the robbery.
Police have not revealed how much was taken in the robbery other than it was tens of thousands of dollars.
- NZPA
