Senior Constable Rod Gully works the scene. PHOTO/ALEYNA MARTINEZ
ALEYNA MARTINEZ
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A man, armed with a firearm, robbed Jackson Street Bar on Tuesday night and got away with an “amount of cash”, police said.
Wairarapa Police Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said on Wednesday the man, wearing “a balaclava, glasses and yellow hi-vis clothing” entered the bar about 10pm, around closing time.
The man left the premises on foot towards Queen St.
Trust House owns the bar, and its chief executive Charles Kaka said on Wednesday staff and some patrons were inside when the man robbed it, “leaving them very shaken”.
Staff were “extremely frightened”, although some patrons “didn’t realise what was going on” at the time of the robbery, he said.
Trust House was thankful that the bar staff had reacted as they had been trained to do, by “stepping back” and letting the man take what “he needed to take”, Kaka, who succeeded Alan Pollard as chief executive of the trust four weeks ago, said.
Support was available for the bar’s staff, he said.
“Anyone that suggests they can brush this off quickly is not being honest.”
The bar, which opens at 8am daily, was closed on Wednesday as police forensics officers examined the scene.
Police would like to hear from anyone who saw anyone matching the description of the offender at around the time of the robbery.
“We would like to hear from anyone who has other information which may assist us in identifying and locating the offender,” Bysouth said.
- Anyone with information was urged to call 105 and quote file number 200729/3754. Information could also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
