A woman forced to the ground at gunpoint during a violent robbery at a 24-hour dairy in North Dunedin did not feel she was in danger, but was not willing to "karate-chop the guy or anything just to see".
The woman, who was delivering the Otago Daily Times, was one of three people assaulted by two heavily disguised men - one armed with a gun and the other a knife - who allegedly robbed the Regent Night 'n Day store about 12.30am yesterday.
A member of the public was kicked unconscious and left lying on the ground outside the Regent Rd store before the alleged robbers went inside and demanded cash from the sole staff member.
The worker was kicked and punched and a small amount of cigarettes and money was stolen.
The paper delivery woman thought something was not right when she noticed a man lying on the footpath outside the dairy when she stopped, but put it down to student antics.
When she stepped from her vehicle, a man in a full-face balaclava pointed a gun at her, verbally abused her and ordered her to get on the ground and not look at him.
She complied and lay down, and the man left in a car.
"It was surreal," she said yesterday, after a sleepless night.
"You're like 'is this a joke?'. You just don't expect that in little old Dunedin."
Store owner Andrew Lane said the staff member was bruised and shaken by the robbery, which was "not a pleasant experience".
The store had been the subject of an armed robbery several years ago, but it was not as dramatic.
Staff were trained to handle those sorts of situations but there was only so much they could actually do when it happened, Mr Lane said.
"We hope these guys get caught soon, which I'm sure is a mutual feeling among everyone involved."
Detective Sergeant John Hedges said police had concerns about the level of violence used in the incident.
It was too early to say if the robbery was linked to a series of non-injury armed robberies in Dunedin earlier this month, he said. The alleged offenders in those incidents had been charged. It was not believed any of those people were involved in the Night 'n Day robbery.
It was also too early to say if it was linked to an armed robbery of Invercargill's Dee St Night 'n Day Store about 90 minutes earlier on Sunday, police said.
Det Sgt Hedges appealed for reports of any sightings of a stolen silver Subaru GT station wagon, which was seen outside the Regent Night 'n Day store during the robbery.
The vehicle was stolen from Orr St, Dunedin, and most likely had to be filled with petrol, he said.
It was last seen heading north in Regent Rd.
The offender carrying a knife was described as wearing a balaclava and dark jeans and carrying a red plastic bag. The other was described as tall, wearing a black balaclava and hoodie and carrying a silver or grey pistol.
Anyone with information about the offenders or the car should contact police.
