Caltex Western Springs was among six Auckland petrol stations robbed between Sunday 3 March and Sunday 10 March, 2024. Photo: RNZ / MARIKA KHABAZI
Recent robberies targeting petrol stations are hugely concerning, police in Auckland say.
The Caltex on Weymouth Road in Manurewa was robbed early Sunday morning, the latest in a slew of incidents affecting service stations.
In the past seven days, six were targeted across Auckland, four of which were Caltex branded.
Police have stepped up patrols and welfare checks around service stations in response.
Detective Inspector Karen Bright said the welfare checks were about reassuring workers.
"By going in, or talking to the attendant through the window, we're checking in with them. We're talking to them about their processes, and if we see something that we can provide a bit of advice or assurance about, then our team are talking to them about that," she said.
"Overall, we just want them to know that we're out there and we're just trying to reassure them because it must be really hard on those attendants at this time."
She said holding the offenders responsible to account was a priority.
"It's hugely concerning, because often there's only one person working there, they're very vulnerable, and it must be absolutely awful to have this happen."
Bright said there were clear indications some of the offences were linked.
"There are some offenders who are recidivist. Overall, the offending is very transient across the district."
She said checks would continue throughout this week.
"It's about getting out there and reassuring the public, reassuring the workers in these service stations, while our investigation teams get on and do their work to identify and locate these offenders," she said.
"We continuously reassess our deployment, but right now, we understand the concern of the community and this is something we can do to, hopefully, provide some reassurance and prevent some of this offending."