Christel Yardley/Stuff
Screams from Hamilton’s Irvine St Dairy woke up a neighbor on Saturday morning.
Awakened by a major robbery nearby, a man on his socks ran to the aid of a Hamilton shopkeeper whose thumb had been severed.
The neighbor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was still half asleep when he ran to Irvine St Dairy on Saturday morning.
“I started hearing screaming noises and realized something was wrong. So I ran away without even thinking about it. I was ill prepared.”
A worker at Hamilton’s Irvine St Dairy in Frankton lost two fingers on Saturday morning when he was attacked by machete-wielding robbers. Police want to speak to witnesses.
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It is estimated that $15,000 and $20,000 worth of tobacco products were stolen.
The neighbor confronted the trespassers in front of the store where they beat him, knocked him out and swept the machete across his leg.
“When I arrived on scene I only saw one person, the fog cannon had already been activated and the shopkeeper was inside screaming. I didn’t know there were others [offenders]. Then there were three others, and I didn’t know they were armed.”
The man said he was concerned for the shopkeeper as possessions can be replaced, but “we only have one life”.
STUFF
“He cried and said he was hit,” says the owner of the Hamilton store, who received a distraught phone call. “There was blood all over the floor where he was attacked.”
The man has lived in Irvine St for at least 30 years and it is the second time he has intervened in a violent attack on a dairy farmer. the shopkeeper last lost an eye in a lunchtime robbery in 2017 which happened under other store ownership.
The man said that the perpetrators turned out to be young people on Saturday.
“I didn’t expect to be beaten. But I’d rather get knocked out if it helps the shopkeeper.”
He has been medically examined, has a few cuts on his lower lip and has been hit on the back of the head and scraped by the machete. He felt a little tired then Stuff visited him on Sunday morning.
He had downplayed his actions.
“For me I wasn’t great, I could have done more. It is a blessing that I walked away with abrasions.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said they are asking witnesses to the robbery to come forward.
“We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or events immediately after, or who has information about those involved.
“We would also like to hear from anyone who has private cameras in the immediate area or surrounding streets who may have captured footage useful for the investigation.”
If you can help, please contact the police 105 or at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 ‘Update my report’ with reference to file number 221217/6333.