Moment Auckland shopkeeper chases off would-be robbers

Auckland shopkeeper Manggi Sarbjit Singh chased away two offenders during an attempted robbery at his store, Walia Superette, on Karangahape Road last night.

Attempted Robbery on Karangahape Road

Singh was on the phone with his granddaughter and preparing to assist a customer when he noticed a male running into the store, followed by another individual. CCTV footage showed one of the individuals jumping onto the counter, prompting Singh to push him off before the pair fled.

“I then picked up my hockey stick, tried to run behind him, then they jumped in the car and took off,” Singh said. “It happened within a minute. [I] couldn’t think about it.”

According to Singh, robbers typically target cigarettes or cash. He also praised the swift response of the police, who arrived within two minutes.

Reflecting on the incident, Singh expressed his relief, stating he felt “lucky” and acknowledged the situation could have been far worse.

Police confirmed that one of the apprehended individuals was found in possession of a machete.

“What can I do?” Singh said. “I can’t do much, you have to work. You can’t sit home scared or something like that.”

In a statement, police said the two males, with their faces covered, verbally abused the shopkeeper before the attempted robbery. Inspector Grae Anderson stated that one offender jumped onto the counter, leading to the shopkeeper’s pursuit.

The offenders escaped in a stolen vehicle, which was later tracked by a police camera operator and the Eagle helicopter to the Western Springs area. Two 17-year-olds were arrested near St Lukes, with one allegedly carrying a machete. Two additional boys, aged 12 and 13, were taken into custody after the vehicle was stopped on Te Atatū Rd and have been referred to Youth Aid.

The 17-year-olds have been jointly charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, and one faces an additional charge of possessing an offensive weapon. They are scheduled to appear in the Auckland Youth Court today.