Waikato supermarket robbed by masked men

Police are appealing for witnesses after two masked men robbed a Waikato supermarket at gunpoint yesterday.

The men entered the Putaruru Countdown about 8.50pm armed with a blunt instrument and a firearm and demanded money from checkout staff.

They fled the shop a short time later after obtaining a sum of money. Police would not specify the amount.

Police said the men had arrived at the supermarket in a stolen silver Mazda Lantis saloon car, registration AWM936, which was located three blocks from the supermarket shortly after the robbery.

The car was stolen from the Dreghorn Place carpark in Tokoroa sometime between 9am and 4pm yesterday and anyone who might have seen people acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the carpark during those times was asked to contact police.

Police also wanted to hear from anyone who might have seen the car after the robbery, or had any other information relating to the incident.

The men were described as being Maori or Pacific Islanders, of average height and aged between 20 and 30 years. They were wearing dark clothes and had there faces covered with bandanas.

- NZPA