A Hamilton service station worker who grew suspicious of a group of teens loitering outside the station called police just moments before the group smashed their way into the store and threatened to kill him with a gun.
A group of three boys approached the night pay window at the Caltex Service Station on Avalon Drive about 5.10am this morning and bought two pies, but did not have enough money for a third pie, Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said.
They began harassing the attendant to give them one for free but he refused, and the group left.
"About 5.25am a member of the public came up to the window and said the trio were acting suspiciously outside,'' Mr Thornton said.
The worker called 111 and reported them just as they smashed their way into the store, threatening to kill the attendant with a gun.
