TV bid to catch pair in raid on Rotorua dairy

Police Ten 7 presenter Graham Bell and Rotorua police Detective Jeff Alpe, outside the Pandora Foodmarket. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua detectives hope a popular television programme will help solve a five-month-old attempted robbery.

TV2's Police Ten 7 crew were in Westbrook yesterday to record a piece on the Pandora Foodmarket. They said it was a back-up piece for this week but, if not screened this week, it would feature in the near future.

Pandora Foodmarket was targeted by two would-be robbers in March. They fled empty-handed after the shopkeeper ran out of the back of the shop.

Detective Jeff Alpe said they had obtained information from witnesses who had spoken to police already but were hopeful some new information would be brought to light.

CCTV: This offender has not been identified. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

"The shopkeeper was in great fear," Mr Alpe said.

"He was threatened with a knife and a crowbar by the two offenders, but he ran out the back of the shop, which was the best thing to do.

"He confused them by doing that."

The attempted robbery happened about 10.45am on March 2.

"It never ceases to amaze me half-witted criminals like this risk a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison to commit an armed hold-up on a dairy," said Graham Bell, the retired detective inspector who presents Police Ten 7. "No one is going to get rich robbing dairies. Most dairies are operating on a shoestring budget."