Trainee to return to petrol station shift despite armed robbery

A trainee West Auckland petrol station attendant planned to be back at work last night despite being held up by armed thugs in his first week at work.

Three men entered the Gull station in New Lynn just after 4am yesterday. One of them smashed a hammer down on the counter and demanded the contents of the till but the terrified trainee was unable to open the drawer.

As one of the thieves stole about $100 worth of cigarettes and tobacco, a second took the entire till, which contained about $300.

They left in a car that was parked in the forecourt.

Staff said yesterday that the robbery was the second since December.

Last month a group of teenagers held up a female attendant and escaped with a similar amount of cash and cigarettes.

Some staff, especially those working nights, are now feeling apprehensive about their safety but say there is little that can be done for the station also serves as a 24-hour supermarket so the doors must stay open to the public.

The trainee, after recovering from his initial shock, phoned the manager to say he would return to the 12am shift last night.

Henderson police would like to hear from anyone with information about the robbery or the three people involved.

The offenders are described as solidly built male Polynesians in their 20s.

One wore a white T-shirt with a hoodie-style cap, black pants and black shoes. The other two wore white T-shirts, light pants and white shoes.