An off-duty police officer was injured in a brutal daylight robbery this afternoon after six people used guns to smash into a luxury jewelry store in central Auckland.
Photo: RNZ / Rayssa Almeida
Shops near The Hour Glass – a luxury jewelry store on Queen Street – were immediately shut down around 3:45 pm during the incident.
Police said six people used weapons to enter the store and stole two bags of jewelry.
Bystanders and an off-duty officer intervened and recovered the two bags.
But the officer was hit on the head by one of the robbers and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
A man was arrested on the spot. The police are looking for others involved.
The jeweler is still trying to determine if all stolen items have been accounted for.
Police at the scene of a brutal daylight robbery in central Auckland.
Photo: RNZ / Rayssa Almeida
RNZ’s Susie Fergusson was at a nearby store and said staff acted quickly to protect customers.
“People were pulled further into the store and they pulled down the shutters. Sure, people were scared in the makeup store I was in.”
Another witness said there was an altercation and shouting and traffic cones were thrown.
The jewelry store has been closed during the investigation.
At least five police cars and an ambulance responded to the incident.
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