‘Slasher-like’ weapon used in store robbery
CCTV images released by police show robbers striking a Palmerston North liquor store worker with a weapon.
Thieves made off with cash and tobacco products during the robbery of Liquorland on College St, Awapuni, about 7.25pm on Saturday.
It was the second time the store had been robbed in three months.
It was targeted previously on March 21 and five of the six people allegedly responsible have been arrested.
On the most recent occasion, four people entered the store and demanded items.
It’s believed cash and tobacco products were taken, a statement from police said.
One of the two shop attendants was hit by the wooden weapon, described by police as a ‘‘slashertype’’ tool.
The attendant’s injuries were not serious.
Police have released pictures in connection with the robbery and are seeking the public’s help as they continue to investigate.
Police said the offenders fled the scene in a stolen red Subaru Impreza.
Its registration is ERT266 and it was taken from the Globe Theatre car park earlier on Saturday.
Police want to hear from anyone who recognises the weapon, or the vehicle, or who has any further information on what happened.
They are asked to contact Palmerston North police on (06) 351 3600 or, alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Trees are everyone’s business.
Right now in Palmerston North, the search is on for specimens worthy of protection under the District Plan – a list last updated in 2011.
City council planner Keegan Aplin-thane is asking residents to nominate trees they have noticed that might warrant ‘‘notable’’ status, because council staff could not do it all.
‘‘Not everyone knows they can put their hand up about a tree on someone else’s property.’’
Before a tree can be listed, it needs the agreement and cooperation of the owner to act as caretaker.
Aplin-thane said Palmerston North’s canopy of established trees was often under threat from infill subdivision.
‘‘A lot of properties have a statement tree in the middle of the front yard or back yard, exactly where subdividers would want to put a new building.’’
Aplin-thane said property owners often nominated their own tree, so it would be protected when they moved on.
Not every nominee would pass the Stem test – the Standard Tree Evaluation Method for assessing a tree’s health, significance and value by a qualified arborist.
Once listed, trees are protected beyond the boundary, so looking after them also requires the cooperation of neighbours.
Owners are not allowed to do maintenance beyond trimming with secateurs.
Anything more has to be done by one of the council’s preferred contractors, with the council contributing 70 per cent of the costs up to $400 a year, or $1500 for a group of trees.
When city resident Nelson Speirs moved into his Te Awe Awe St home 23 years ago, looking after the grand oak at the end of the driveway was part of the package.
‘‘It’s a nice thing to have. I have no desire to remove it.’’
The tree is about 100 years old, with a story dating back to when Louis Pascal, after whom Pascal St is named, planted many trees on the 7 acre block.
But there are down sides. The driveway cannot be sealed, as that would starve the roots. The fence and low wall are pushed out of alignment. Shading is an issue.
And then there are millions of leaves and acorns by the trailer load.