Robberies fueled by rising cigarette prices

A Far North service station owner is fed up after two armed robberies in the space of four months.

Gurpreet Bains has owned the BP petrol station in Moerewa for ten years and had never had any trouble until four months ago.

But on September 27 two men and a woman armed with weapons entered the service station at around 6.50am.

The trio threatened the sole female worker before taking two tills and cigarettes.

Acting Detective Sergeant Greg Johnson says a grey Mazda Proceed believed to be linked to the robbery has since been recovered by police on Mangakahia Rd in Kaikohe.

Police also believe a black ute was travelling in convoy.

The offenders are yet to be located.

Bains says his employee kept a cool head throughout the attack which he says lasted around 90 seconds.

‘‘Safety comes first, there’s no need to confront them [the offenders]. Stuff can be replaced.’’

The employee was left shaken but unhurt.

Bains says he had been concerned his station might be targeted after several other petrol stations had been robbed in the area in the last few months.

‘‘I go to bed every night and hope the phone doesn’t ring.’’

He says the rising costs of cigarettes is contributing to the robberies.

‘‘I’m not saying they shouldn’t increase the prices but with them going up, they only have to take three or four packets to get a weeks wages.’’

A 16-year-old local boy was sentenced in the youth court after producing a knife at the Moerewa station around four months ago after making off with around $200 of cigarettes.

Kaeo’s BP service station was targeted in September with four offenders ram-raiding the front door in the early hours of the morning and making off with an ATM cassette, drawers from the till and a bag of lollies.

A 28-year-old Kaikohe man has since been arrested in relation to the incident.

He was remanded on bail until October 11.

Later the same morning a Waipapa service station also had the front and back doors smashed.

Anyone with information on the Moerewa robbery can contact Kaikohe police on 09 4052960 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.