11 Dec 2010

Arrest follows series of Hutt shop robberies

9:31 pm on 11 December 2010

Police say a man will appear in the Lower Hutt District Court on Monday morning charged with the aggravated robberies of three local shops at gunpoint.

With the help of the Armed Offenders Squad, police located and arrested a 19-year-old man and recovered a handgun in Stokes Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Detective Sergeant Mike Sears says no one was injured in the robberies but the victims are traumatised.

The shops were robbed in quick succession shortly after 8am, with a small amount of cash and cigarettes taken from each store.

Mr Sears says the investigation is continuing and more charges may be laid.