Hammer-wielding robber fended off with broom
A man used a broom to fight off a hammer-wielding robber at a scrap metal yard in Waipukurau yesterday.
Police traffic and dog squads were sent to the Waipukurau branch of Scrapit HB on Cook St after it was robbed at about 1.30pm.
Manager Chris Beddis was taken next door to Central Hawke’s Bay Health Centre with injuries to his face and wrist but was shortly after discharged.
Mr Beddis said he was confronted by a man who walked into the yard with a hammer and bag and asked for money. Mr Beddis picked up the nearest implement, a broom, and told the offender he was not going to concede.
“I’m not going to give money to people that haven’t earned it.”
The manager received injuries to his face and hand from the hammer after the offender lunged at Mr Beddis who took a swing at him and a struggle ensued.
“I wish the hit connected but it didn’t.
“I bailed him to the middle of the workshop, he saw that I wasn’t going to back down so he flung the hammer at me and legged it.”
Mr Beddis said he felt fine but had been a bit shaken when it first happened and thought it would hit him when he got home.
“The buttons of the cell phone felt a bit small when I was trying to ring the cops.”
The victim had been sole charge of the yard for about four-and-a-half years and nothing like this had ever happened, he said.
Scrapit HB owner Des Bristow said he did not understand how someone could attack a 60ish-yearold man with a hammer. “I would like to see justice.” He had not heard of any other attacks like this at metal recyclers in the country.
He now planned to review the staffing situation and look at hiring another person for the Waipukurau yard but it would be hard to afford, Mr Bristow said.
He wanted to offer a reward to anyone with information on the offender and people could contact him on 06 878 7972.
A police spokesperson said the offender left the scene on foot down Cook St towards SH2 and is described as a male Maori, aged 19-20 years, 5ft 10 (1.7m) and of stocky build.
He was wearing a black hoody possibly with white stripes down the sleeves, tight black pants and a woven black scarf covering his lower face. He was also wearing dark sunglasses.
The victim received moderate abrasions to his face, which required stitches, and bruising to his wrists and ribs. He received medical assistance and was offered Victim Support.
A traffic unit and two dog units from Hastings were sent to search Waipukurau but the offender had not yet been found.
"I bailed him to the middle of the workshop, he saw that I wasn’t going to back down so he flung the hammer at me and legged it." Chris Beddis, manager Scrapit HB, Waipukurau