Dad slashed in robbery

An 11-year-old girl was left shaken after seeing her father slashed in a struggle with a shirtless robber at the family’s north Waikato store.

Her mother said the girl was upset and called for help following the aggravated robbery at the Meremere Superette and Takeaways on Thursday.

The 41-year-old shopkeeper was taken to Middlemore Hospital with lacerations to his arms and head after a struggle with the robbers.

‘‘She’s all right now,’’ the woman, who did not wish to be named, said yesterday morning.

Around 11.30am Thursday, two men stormed the superette and takeaways on Te Puea Ave wielding knives and a hammer. They threatened the 41-year-old storeworker and his 11-year-old daughter.

Police said the duo demanded cash and cigarettes from the shopkeeper before a scuffle ensued.

‘‘A struggle between the victim and the offenders broke out, causing the victim to suffer several lacerations after receiving blows to his forearms and head,’’ a police statement said.

The shopkeeper took a blow to the head with a hammer, and copped deep cuts to his arms in the struggle with the shirtless man.

Both men then ran to an electric-blue Ford Falcon with white stripes along the sides and a spoiler, driving off at speed.

Members of the community rushed to help the injured man and his daughter outside the superette.

He suffered moderate to serious injuries.

The woman said her husband was discharged on Thursday evening and was recovering back at home yesterday morning.

‘‘He’s okay and safe now, he’s just resting today.’’

She said the family of four were ‘‘coping all right’’. It was the first robbery they’d experienced in the six years of owning the Meremere store.

The mother of two had left the store to go shopping shortly before the incident. She got a frantic call from her daughter telling her what happened.

‘‘We’ve had huge support from our locals - the whole town. Everyone has been really good.’’

She believed the culprits were likely ‘‘teenagers’’ who fled emptyhanded.

They discarded some items on the way out, including a knife that was found at the scene and had been taken away for forensic testing, Waikato police Senior Sergeant Simon Cherry said.

CCTV cameras operating in the store show one of the men was shirtless. The other offender wore a hoodie and blue bandana around his head.

A scene examination was under way.

Anyone with information can call Detective Julie Cowley Huntly CIB on 07 858 6200, e-mail Julie.Cowley@police.govt.nz. Information can also be left via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

"A struggle between the victim and the offenders broke out, causing the victim to suffer several lacerations after receiving blows to his forearms and head." Police statement