Subj : Hamilton petrol station robbers took a few wrong turns
To   : All
From : News Person
Date : Wed Apr 10 2024 12:03 pm

Five youths have been rounded up by police inside an hour after they fled the
scene of a robbery at a Hamilton petrol station.

Police said the group were driving on the wrong side of the road - leading to
multiple near misses with other motorists - as they departed the robbery.

Police were called after five masked offenders stole cash and cigarettes
before fleeing from a service station on Whatawhata Rd in Dinsdale around
1.15pm, Inspector Andrea McBeth said.

Several people were in the store when the incident unfolded, including a
child.

Officers, including two dog units, responded after an employee called police
from a safe room.

The youths fled in a stolen car, which was tracked "thanks to several 111
calls about the car on driving on the wrong side of the road and multiple
near-collisions with other motorists", McBeth said.

The vehicle was found abandoned on Hinton Rd.

Four people were arrested near the scene, she said.

A fifth person was arrested after police identified a house of interest.

"We are providing support to the victims and witnesses who were inside the
store. One was a child who, while not harmed, was understandably distressed
by what unfolded," she said.

"People deserve to be able to do their work or go about their day without
being threatened, harmed or made to feel unsafe.

"I want to thank the members of the public who called us immediately with
information, as has been crucial in helping us get such a fast result."

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