Robbery at Pharmacy in Christchurch

At about 12.55 pm on Saturday the 7th of March 2009 a male entered the premises of Alabasters Pharmacy 200A Papanui Road, opposite Merivale Mall, and robbed the owner of an amount of cash. The offending male was wearing a red full face crash helmet at the time of the incident.
During the robbery the offender threw petrol over the pharmacist and threatened to set him on fire. The pharmacist was able to run out of the shop and raise the alarm with a nearby shop owner.
The offender left the pharmacy and got on to a red Ducati 749 motorcycle which was parked in a loading zone near the pharmacy. He left on the motorcycle and was last seen travelling east on St Albans Street at speed.
The Ducati motorcycle was located a short time later by Police leaning up against a fence outside Abberley Park in Abberley Crescent. The motorcycle had earlier been reported stolen in a burglary on Friday 6 March from a New Brighton address.
The pharmacist is recovering well at home after his ordeal but is understandably shocked by this incident.
'The potential for serious injury to the pharmacist during this incident cannot be overstated'.
Police are following a number of positive lines of enquiry and seek the assistance of the public in this matter.
Police are interested in hearing from any member of the public who may have seen a red Ducati motorcycle and its rider at about 12.50 pm in the vicinity of Alabasters Pharmacy on Papanui Road opposite Merivale Mall.
In addition Police are also interested in any sightings of the Ducati motorcycle and its rider on St Albans Road or Abberley Crescent near Abberley Park shortly after 12.55 pm.
Any member of the public who has any information to offer can contact Detective Sergeant Paul Merrett from the New Brighton Police on 3739102.

Paul Merrett
Detective Sergeant
New Brighton Police
Christchurch
7 March 2009

Issued By: Inspector Rick Jury