Police investigate two knife-point robberies
Police want leads on knife-point robberies at two Hastings sports bars a month apart.
Two men robbed Zabeels Sports Bar at King St North in central Hastings last month.
A man robbed the Horse & Hound Cafe and Bar at Karamu Rd at about 10.30pm on July 2.
Detective Kate Hyde said police were continuing investigations but needed the community’s help to identify the offenders. ‘‘These are two well-known bars with regular patrons and the robberies impacted significantly on staff and locals alike.’’
Zabeels Bar was the target of an aggravated robbery at 9.30am on June 7. Two men entered the bar, threatened staff with a knife, and pushed an employee.
They stole cash before running outside and north along King Street where they took off in an older-style, red, fourdoor vehicle at speed toward St Aubyns St. The incident left staff and patrons shaken but nobody was injured.
The first man had a solid build and was about 6 feet tall. The second offender was Maori.
About a month later, a robber with a knife targeted two staff at the Horse & Hound Cafe and Bar along Karamu Rd at 10.30pm on July 2.
After getting cash, the man forced both victims into a vehicle, with one of the staff driving.
He told the driver to go to Frederick St, where he told the victim to stop the car at about No 133, and he ran off through local properties.
Contact local police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with any information.