PHOTO/FILE
Three armed men rob residents at gunpoint
People must stay vigilant
KAREN COLTMAN
[email protected]
Three men with firearms robbed four people of cash Wednesday morning at a house on Kummer Cres, Masterton.
The alleged armed robbers fled the scene before police arrived just after 7.30am on Wednesday and an investigation is ongoing.
Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth, who is leading the police investigation, said the police team had examined the scene and interviewed witnesses who had been unable to identify the intruders.
“The occupants were unharmed and are okay,” Bysouth said.
“Because firearms are involved, this is very serious and we want to recover the firearms and find the perpetrators.
“Anyone who knows who these men are or saw a vehicle on the street at this time, I ask to come to police with this information.”
The police believe the robbery was targeted and not a random attack.
Police are urging anyone with information to call 06 370 0300 or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Moving into Alert Level 3, Wairarapa Police Commander Inspector Scott Miller said people were expected to remain in their immediate household bubbles.
Bubbles can be expand to reconnect with close family or bring in caregivers, or support isolated people.
This extended bubble should remain exclusive.
Miller said police would continue checks on where people were driving to and why, and social gatherings were still banned.
“There is a high level of trust that the community will keep to their bubble and stay local.
“You cannot drive out to the beach in this large region.
“The Alert Level 3 lockdown is still about only going out if it is necessary to do so.
“People need to ask themselves whether what they are doing in public is necessary.
“Everyone must keep up with vigilant hand washing and restricting contact with others. Social distancing and full hygiene must remain in place.”
Miller said Wairarapa people generally adhered to lockdown rules over the Anzac weekend, but there are still people driving around saying they are going shopping but are just going out for one item.
“We had a guy with just one small supermarket purchase saying he couldn’t get what he was after.
“This kind of trip is not what we want to see.
“Our checkpoints will continue at the same level as they were at Alert Level 4.”
Wow, Senior Sargent Barry reckons occupants were unharmed and OK.
WTF. One occupants face has doubled in size due to bruising and obvious hits or god knows wat, can barely walk, traumatised and scared to walk out of her house Is this the meaning of unharmed and OK???