Retailer robbed at knifepoint

Palmerston North police are investigating an aggravated robbery of a discount tobacconist in Main St.

The Butt Bucket was robbed at knifepoint at 7.30am on Thursday, police said. The offender made off with money from the till and a sleeping bag filled with tobacco products and headed towards Vogel St.

Butt Bucket owner Richard Green was on his way into the store at the time of the robbery, and his 21-year-old daughter Amber Stern had just opened the shop.

Green said a tall, ‘‘skinnyish Maori boy’’ had entered the store with a sleeping bag before putting on a camouflaged balaclava and pulling a long butcher’s knife on Stern.

‘‘We were only open for half an hour, so he didn’t get much more than the float, around $400.’’

He said the man threatened Stern with the knife and told her to fill the sleeping bag with cash and cigarettes.

He grew impatient and told her she was taking too long, before snatching the bag back and running out to a Subaru WRX and driving off towards Vogel St, Green said.

‘‘She’s pretty shaken up, and her partner came up [in the morning] to have a talk with her.’’

Green said everyone was on edge after the robbery so they planned to take a couple of days off to recover.

He said stores that sold cigarettes and tobacco were being targeted by criminals more often as taxes drove up the price and made tobacco an attractive commodity for thieves.

‘‘The Government is the only one I can really blame for this.

‘‘They say well just don’t sell smokes then, but we should be able to sell a legal product without risking our lives.’’

Police ask anyone with information related to the robbery to call the Palmerston North station on 06 351 3600 or call in an anonymous tip to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.