Police hunting for Papatoetoe jewellery shop owner attacked with hammer and knife

GRAPHIC WARNING: This story contains distressing content that may be disturbing to some viewers.

Shocking video footage shows at least three armed robbers breaking into a south Auckland jewellery store and attacking the owner on the head with a hammer as his horrified family watch on as he falls to the ground covered in blood.

As the incident unfolded, a customer and three terrified children fled to the back of the store and hid behind the counter while the owner tried to fight off three masked robbers through a security door.

One of them then swung a hammer, hitting the shop owner on the head, while the other slashed him with a knife, knocking him to the ground.

The video shows another staff member stepping forward to protect the seriously injured victim and confronting the robbers with a large sword as they evacuated the store, taking several boxes of jewellery as they fled.

The shocked shop owner then collapsed, clutching a bleeding wound on his head, as a panicked woman rushed over to help.

The violence occurred Pooja Jewellers It was held at Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe, about 5.45pm today.

The offender fled the scene and police said they are still hunting for the perpetrator.

The victim was taken to Middlemore Hospital He will receive treatment tonight.

His son was too horrified to speak but told the Herald his father had been transferred to Auckland Hospital for surgery.

‘Crime is out of control and needs to be stopped’

Dairy and business owners Sunny Kaushal, Chairman, Crime Prevention Group He said he had a close relationship with the victim.

Kaushal learnt that at around 5:45 pm, a customer was about to leave when the armed criminals forcefully entered the store.

“They attacked the shop owner, a family member and a worker. Three people were injured as a result,” he said.

“The owner was seriously injured. It was said that he was hit on the head three times with a hammer and his forehead was cut once with a knife.”

“He was taken to hospital and received stitches on his forehead. He is currently awaiting scans but is out of danger.”

Kaushal plans to visit the family tomorrow morning.

“This family is very community-oriented,” he said.

“They have made a huge contribution to the community and society.”

He said the family had been in the community for a long time and was well-known and respected.

“This is a stark reminder that New Zealand’s crime problem is out of control and must be stopped.

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult for shop owners to do business in New Zealand.

“Our retailers and all hard-working New Zealanders deserve to work in a safe environment and it is the Government’s responsibility to make that a reality.”

Police ‘committed to holding criminals to account’

A St John Ambulance spokesperson told the Herald they were sending a road manager and two ambulances to an incident at Papatoetoe tonight.

“We transported a patient to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition.”

A police spokesman said an Eagle helicopter had rushed to the scene, but the criminal had driven away before arriving and his whereabouts are unknown.

Officer Keki Wilson said police were working to piece together what happened.

“We are speaking to a number of witnesses and will be carrying out a scene examination.

“This type of violence is a cause for concern and police are committed to holding offenders to account.”

Wilson said police were continuing their investigation to find the person responsible and his vehicle.

If you have any information that could help find the people involved, please contact police on 105 quoting incident number P059142364.

The incident happened just hours after the government announced New Initiative to Fight Crimeincluding a new designation for hardened and repeat youth offenders, a trial of a militarised boot camp program and an additional police presence in central business districts across the country.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealanders were tired of rising crime rates and many did not feel safe in their homes.

“No one should have to feel fear walking down Queen Street in Auckland, and no one should have to feel fear going to work, worrying whether their store is going to be robbed or broken into.”

“I’m tired of this behaviour, New Zealanders are tired of this behaviour, it’s unacceptable.”