Dairy staff robbed at knifepoint again

Staff at Meadowbank Dairy were robbed at knifepoint on Friday, as an Oamaru man allegedly took off with $150 of synthetic cannabis.

A 19-year-old was remanded in custody after appearing in the Dunedin District Court on Saturday on charges of aggravated robbery in relation to the robbery at knifepoint, and a charge of shoplifting for obtaining the knife.

Oamaru police Sergeant Blair Wilkinson said that at 7.30pm on Friday, police received a 111 call reporting that a man had entered the dairy and held staff at knifepoint before leaving on a bicycle with stolen goods.

Mr Wilkinson said police received assistance from members of the public who pointed out where he had been seen.

The alleged offender was found hiding in a residential property on Don St at about 8.15pm.

Mr Wilkinson said when confronted by armed police, the 19-year-old was co-operative.

The knife and about $150 worth of synthetic cannabis products were recovered.

No one was injured in the robbery, but Meadowbank Dairy staff were "understandably shaken and upset" by the incident, he said.

Friday's alleged robbery comes after a separate incident in May, when staff at Meadowbank Dairy were also held at knifepoint and synthetic cannabis products were stolen.

Mr Wilkinson said several Oamaru dairies sold "highly sought after" synthetic cannabis.

"It seems to put [the dairies] at a greater risk of burglary."

The 19-year-old Oamaru man is due to reappear in court tomorrow.