Frederick St, Carterton. PHOTO/EMILY IRELAND
GIANINA SCHWANECKE
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Four men – one wielding a long-barrelled firearm, another a hammer – robbed a Carterton resident in what police are calling a targeted attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police said the armed robbery was unrelated to a spike in crime across Wairarapa and have appealed for help identifying four people involved.
The Frederick St resident was woken at about 1.30am by a knock at the door and was confronted by four people in the hallway, Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said.
After searching the house and stealing personal items, the offenders left in a vehicle, possibly toward Lincoln Rd.
“This was a targeted attack specifically aimed at stealing cash and electrical items from the victim,” Bysouth said.
“Police do not believe there is any risk from this group to the wider community at this time.”
He said the incident was not thought to be connected to the armed robbery of the Right Dairy on the corner of Moreton Rd or the theft at the Carterton Bottle Store.
A 26-year-old man was also arrested in May after an armed home invasion in Masterton on April 28.
“They’re not linked, it’s just a number of coincidences,” Bysouth said.
“[During the covid-19 lockdown], nothing happened in this kind of area.
“It looks like an uplift because everything was so quiet, so things appear to stand out.”
While physically unharmed, he said the resident had been left “extremely shaken” and was referred to Victim Support services.
Although one suspect could not be described, other than wearing dark clothing, the remaining three suspects were described as wearing bandanas over their lower faces and dark clothing.
One was described as stocky and tall, another tall and slim, and the third as small and thin.
The long-barrelled firearm is thought to be a shotgun or rifle of some description.
Police have asked anyone who saw a vehicle in Frederick St between 1.30 and 2am on Saturday to contact Wairarapa Police on 105 and quote file number 200613/1775.
Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.
