Last updated 18:03, May 23 2018
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Two teenagers have been arrested in relation to a robbery at a dairy on Ferry Rd, Christchurch, on Wednesday.
Two teenagers have been arrested in relation to a robbery at a dairy on Ferry Rd, Christchurch, on Wednesday.
A teenage girl armed with a hammer allegedly tried to rob a Christchurch dairy.
Police were called to the M&M Mini Mart on Ferry Rd about 8.20am on Wednesday.
Neighbouring 24/7 Bakery owner Yvonne Zhang said the girl was wearing a mask and carrying a hammer when she entered the dairy and demanded money.
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She said the girl allegedly hit the owner with the hammer, hurting his eye, before he overpowered her and took it off her. A customer then rang police, she said.
Zhang, who had her own bakery robbed on May 14 and twice in 2016, said police needed to make an example of the girl to deter others from doing the same.
"They need to ... punish one to make the others scared to copy what they did.
"I think they just copy each other because they know they can get away with it because they are underage. It's no harm to them."
She said it was hard running a business in the area due to the high number of robberies.
"The staff worry and get scared ... It's difficult for us to operate a business."
Since the robbery at her business on May 14, police visiting the premises regularly, which made staff feel more protected, she said.
A police spokeswoman said a 15-year-old girl had been charged with assault with intent to rob and was expected to appear in Youth Court on Thursday.
A 19-year-old man was also facing a charge of receiving stolen property.