A man sought in connection to a violent dairy robbery in December that led to a worker having two fingers chopped off is "actively evading police" and considered "dangerous".
Police on Thursday released an image of 19-year-old Trayd Tahau who is being sought over the violent incident at Irvines Street Dairy in Hamilton's Frankton on December 17.
A warrant to arrest was issued at the Hamilton District Court on Wednesday, police said, with Tahau charged with aggravated robbery, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, aggravated assault, assault with intent to rob, and unlawfully getting into a vehicle.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said the man shouldn't be approached.
"We believe he may still be in the Waikato area and is actively evading Police," said Saunders.
“We want to hear from anyone with information on his whereabouts. We consider Trayd to be dangerous and need anyone with information to contact us immediately.”
People with details about Tahau should call Police 111 and quote the file number 221217/6333. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
CCTV footage of the incident at the dairy shows four offenders entering the store soon after it opened.
The staff member escaped to a back room but was chased down by one of the offenders who swung a machete, chopping off two of his fingers.
"He tried to save himself by bringing in his hand in between his head or chest and the machete thing hit him on his hands and his two fingers were cut down and dispatched from the hand," Irvine St Dairy owner Puneet Singh said.
Singh said the offenders took off with about $20,000 worth of tobacco products.
