By admin 
Photo: RNZ/Angus Dreaver
Three youths have been charged following an armed robbery by people wearing masks following a public tip-off.
Auckland City CIB Detective Chris Allan said around 9pm on Sunday police received a report of several masked people entering a commercial premises on Hillsborough Road, Mount Roskill.
They were armed with weapons.
“The group allegedly assaulted the only clerk and stole alcohol, cigarettes and money before leaving in a car,” Allan said.
The victim suffered minor injuries.
Allan said that just before the aggravated robbery, someone called police to report that people in two vehicles were acting suspiciously.
“In response to this case, police, equipped with the public’s information, including license plates, were later able to locate two vehicles and arrest the alleged offenders.”
Four people were taken into custody.
He described the robbery as “nasty” but praised the public.
“This information was critical to the rapid response to this incident and the arrest of the alleged perpetrators. This is a great example of the community assisting police, resulting in these perpetrators being held accountable.”
Weapons and stolen goods were recovered by police.
A man and a woman, both aged 21, were charged with aggravated robbery and appeared in the Auckland District Court on Monday.
A 16-year-old was due to appear in the Auckland Youth Court on January 9 charged with aggravated robbery.
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