Person hurt in machete attack at Hamilton shop
A Hamilton dairy owner has been left shaken following an aggravated robbery at his store which resulted in a man being injured.
Police were called to the Jai Jalaram Showgrounds
Superette in the suburb of Claudelands at around 2pm yesterday following a report of an aggravated robbery.
‘‘Police were called to a Heaphy Terrace commercial premises ... after a report of three men entering the store armed with a machete and making demands,’’ police said. ‘‘One person was then assaulted, causing a wound to the shoulder. They have been taken to hospital in a moderate condition.’’
The offenders fled the scene in a vehicle.
A small group of people were outside the store where a witness said a person was ‘‘swiped across the shoulder’’ with a machete.
Owner of the store, Bhupen Patel said he spotted the men walk into the store, one brandishing a machete and ‘‘straight away’’ ran to the back of the shop.
Patel said he had a fog canon and alarm system installed in his store and when the fog cannon went off, he saw the men run out of the store.
‘‘I’m still shaking . . . It’s scary you know,’’ he said.
St John Hato Hone responded to the incident at 1:57pm with one ambulance and two rapid response units.
One patient was assessed and treated before being transported to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition.
‘‘This type of violent incident is unacceptable. We are now working hard to identify and locate those involved so we can hold them accountable,’’ Hamilton City Area Commander Inspector Andrea McBeth said.
‘‘We have received several eyewitness accounts as well as footage, all of which will be extremely useful in our investigation.’’