Police are investigating a brazen day-time robbery after a balaclava-clad man, wielding a sledgehammer, smashed into a cash exchange at Auckland's LynnMall and fled with a large amount of cash on Sunday.
In a statement to Newshub on Tuesday, Waitematā CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie said officers responded to reports of a man carrying a large cardboard box with a long-handled sledgehammer inside at around 11:30am.
"As he approached the shopping centre, he has pulled a balaclava over his face before using the sledgehammer to smash his way through the side window," Der Snr Sgt Goldie told Newshub.
"Staff inside the store staff sheltered in the rear office. Thankfully, no one was injured, but Police acknowledge the incident was distressing for the workers involved.
"The offender has taken an amount of cash before fleeing through the car park and into a waiting vehicle."
Video footage of the robbery shows the man throwing himself onto the counter, ripping out the till and emptying the cash into a bag.
Police are asking for anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the area between 11.15am and 11.45am on Sunday, November 12 to come forward.
The vehicle was seen running a red light on Clarke Street and was last seen at the intersection of Clarke Street and Rankin Avenue.
If you have information you can get in touch via the 105 phone service or online, using Update My Report, referencing file number 231112/9230. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
