Young woman robbed at knifepoint

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 2

Young woman robbed at knifepoint

PA Hastings A young Hastings woman was robbed of $l2OO at knifepoint in a building society office in Hastings on Friday afternoon, the police said.

Karen Gunn, aged 21, recalling the incident, said she was alone in the central-city office when a male Maori, aged about 22, confronted her at 4.35 p.m.

She said she did not recognise the man, although she thought he might have walked past the office and “had a good look in the window.” The man entered the office, bent down — to get his passbook, she thought — and as he stood up, grabbed her sweatshirt round her neck and pointed a big hunting knife at her, Miss Gunn said. He demanded all the money she had. Miss Gunn said she opened the cash drawer and handed over most of the money. She was then told to go into the office and close the door behind her. “It was very frightening,” Miss Gunn said. “I didn’t know what he was going to do.” Detective Sergeant W. Davidson, of the Hastings C. 1.8., said it was the second robbery in Hastings in three weeks, although he did not think it was connected with the theft of $7OOO from the Camberley Post Office on June 13.