Halswell robbery may be linked to earlier incident

Police believe a robbery at a Halswell dairy yesterday may be linked to a similar incident near Riccarton Racecourse on Sunday.

Police are investigating a robbery at the Halswell Convenience Store in Lillian St at around 4.20pm yesterday.

Detective Logan Penrose says a man entered the store carrying a hammer and confronted the female shop assistant.

The man made off with a sum of money and ran out of the store before getting into a vehicle parked on Nottingham Avenue.

"The shop assistant and another staff member who followed the man out of the store have been able to provide a description of the offender - and there is a marked similarity to the offender in Sunday's robbery in Riccarton," Detective Penrose says.

He is described as a European with very blonde hair, between approximately 1.78m and 1.83m tall, of slim build.

He was wearing a dark hoody, blue pants and black scarf. The vehicle he got into was a white four-door sedan.

Police have released a security camera image of the offender and are appealing for any information to help identify the man.

"At this stage we cannot be sure whether this is the same offender - but it is notable that the descriptions and details of the two incidents are similar," Detective Penrose says.

"In both these cases it is fortunate that nobody has been injured.

"Somebody will know who this offender is - and we are asking for anyone with information to contact Police urgently." 

Anyone with information about the incident or the offender is asked to contact Detective Penrose at Christchurch Police on 363 7400.

To provide information anonymously phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.