The robbery of a North Shore service station ended with an apology to the attendant. Police hope security camera vision of the robbery may help identify and locate the man responsible.

He entered the Caltex Service Station on Taharoto Road on December 30 2004 at 8:10pm.

Detective Constable Darren Tolmie, of North Shore CIB says, "The man waited until another customer had been served in the shop and then followed the attendant behind the counter, where a demand was made for money."

The offender removed all the cash from the tills and took packets of cigarettes before leaving the shop onto Taharoto Road towards Takapuna.

As the man left the service station he told the attendant he was sorry to do this but said it was Christmas. Police have been told that the man appeared desperate for the money.

Detective Tolmie says, "Someone may have seen the man leaving the station and he may have got into a car. Police would be interested in the description of any such car."

The man shown in the photograph was described as a male Maori or Polynesian of medium build, possibly in his late teens of medium build and 5’8" in height with fine curly hair.

Anyone with any information that can identify the man in the photo can contact Detective Constable Darren Tolmie on 09-478 1704.

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