Appeal for Witnesses - Aggravated Robberies in Hiremaster car park, Webb Street, Wellington

Wellington detectives are appealing for witnesses, including a taxi driver, for information concerning two street robberies on Sunday 28th June 2009. The robberies occurred at 4am and 4:30am at the Hiremaster car park on Webb Street, Wellington.

Detective Sergeant Damian Murphy of Wellington Police is hoping members of the public will be able to identify the people in the accompanying photos, saying, "The two offences were committed within half an hour of each other. Due to the timings and other similarities between the offences, they may well have been committed by the same offenders".

Offence 1 - Attempted Aggravated Robbery
The first offence occurred at 4am, when a 30 year old part-Maori victim was walking home. Two offenders aggressively confronted the victim near the intersection of Karo Drive and Cuba Street and demanded his wallet.

The victim was chased by the offenders to the Hiremaster car park on Webb Street, where he was assaulted.

The attack was stopped by a passer by who intervened and helped the victim get home safely. This witness has been traced.

The offenders were last seen running back out onto Webb Street.

"The victim was shaken by the attack but fortunately he was not injured. Without the assistance of the passerby, the incident could have turned out much worse," says Mr Murphy.

Police would like to hear from the driver of a dark coloured taxi with a light bar on the roof with black and red writing. This taxi was waiting at the traffic lights on the Karo Drive/Cuba Street intersection when the victim was first approached by the offenders. The driver is described as dark skinned and in his early to mid 30s.

Offence 2 - Aggravated Robbery
The second offence occurred at 4:30am, when a 19 year old Caucasian victim was walking home after work. As he walked through the Hiremaster car park on Webb Street, he was punched and had his i-pod stolen by two offenders matching the descriptions of the previous offence.

The offenders forced the victim to walk with them to a cash machine on Wallace Street and to input his bank card and PIN number in the cash machine. The offenders were last seen walking along Wallace Street, towards Newtown.

The offenders are described as;

Offender 1:
Maori or part Maori, about 17 years old, 5'8" tall with a thin to medium build, clean shaven. He spoke with a gangster accent with poor pronunciation and he used street/gang slang.
Had black hair down to around his ears, sticking out from under a dark coloured baseball cap. Dark baggy "homie style" jeans or cargo pants and a light coloured short sleeved t-shirt. White 'fatter-type' skate shoes which were dirty.

Offender 2:
Maori or part Maori. 6'1" - 6'4" tall with a thin build. About 19-20 years old.
Long hair pulled back behind his head in a pony tail. A thin wispy moustache and stubble. Had wrinkles around his mouth.
Wearing a baggy dark blue or black plain short sleeved t-shirt, black or blue baggy jeans and dark skate shoes. He spoke in the same manner as the shorter male.

Anyone who is able to help identify the males in the accompanying photos, or who saw what happened, is urged to contact Police on 0800 TIPOFF (0800 847 633).