Dairy worker bashed in Tauranga robbery

A Tauranga man who was viciously attacked during an armed robbery in Matua last night has spoken out about his terrifying ordeal.

Matua Dairy worker Jagir, 23, was working in the shop alone just after 6pm when two men, armed with a metal rod, entered and began attacking him behind the counter.

One of the men, who was wearing a black bandanna over his face jumped onto the counter and the other came around behind it and started hitting him over the head and arms with the metal rod, he said.

Jagir, who had worked at the store for eight months, said he was so shocked he could not recall what the robbers were saying to him while he was being beaten and then robbed.

"It was really scary and I tried to save myself by putting my arms up. Then the robbers started grabbing cigarettes from the open cabinet and other stuff including telephone calling cards," he said.

Jagir said he managed to flee to the back of the store where he called his boss and the police.

"I'm still a bit sore today and I'm feeling a bit in pain in my arms. I have been told to rest," he said.

The dairy owner, who did not wished to be named, said he had owned the dairy for about two and half years and this was his first robbery.

"But I have been in this business for 14 years so I know what happens," he said.

The owner said he viewed the store surveillance camera footage and what he saw disgusted him.

"We work very hard to make our money and these people think they can come into my store and beat up my boy and steal from us. They did this for $40 to $50 worth of stuff.

"They need to get a job. I hope they go to jail for at least four years," he said.

The owner said another customer who was just coming into the shop saw the robbers leave and began following them as he called the police.

Jagir was a hard worker and very popular with customers, a number of whom had come into the store to check that he was okay, the owner said.

- By Sandra Conchie of the Bay of Plenty Times

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