Sixteen-year-old arrested for dairy robbery
A 16-year-old was arrested in relation to the aggravated robbery of a Waimea Road dairy in Nelson.
The On the Spot Dairy on the corner of Waimea Rd and Tukuka St was robbed at about 4pm on Sunday.
A 16-year-old Nelson man was due to appear in the Nelson Youth Court yesterday charged with aggravated robbery.
Police said they would like to thank members of the public who provided helpful information which led to a quick arrest.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Johnston said police were committed to thoroughly investigating serious violent crimes and holding those responsible to account.
‘‘These crimes are very traumatic not only for the victims directly involved and their families but the community in general, and we will continue to do everything we can to get a resolution for those involved.’’
Dairy owner Balavant Maganlal welcomed the news that an arrest had been made.
‘‘The cops told me they had a couple of suspects they were working on, so that’s very good to hear. ‘‘That’s a big relief for me.’’ Maganlal was in his Hales Corner shop when the man came with a gun on Sunday.
He was wearing a hood and with a bandanna over his face, immediately pointed a gun at him and said: ‘‘I’m here to rob you, give me the cash or I will hurt you.’’
The incident lasted less than two minutes before the offender ran away with about $200. Maganlal said the dairy did not have much cash because most people used eftpos.
He said the man seemed nervous and wanted to leave quickly, not stopping to take cigarettes or stock.
It was the first time Maganlal’s dairy has been robbed in the nine years he has owned it.
He said as soon as the man left he phoned his wife, Hemalata Maganlal, to tell her what had happened, and then the police.
‘‘You hear it happens in Auckland, but I didn’t think it would happen in a town like Nelson,’’ he said. ‘‘All my neighbours and regular customers are shocked when I tell them.’’