Attacked dairy worker who pleaded with robbers not to kill him has had thumb reattached

A dairy worker has had eight hours of surgery to reattach his thumb after it was cut off with a machete during an aggravated robbery.

The Nepalese shopkeeper was attacked about 7.30am on Saturday morning when four offenders ran into Hamilton’s Irvine St dairy and stole estimated $15,000 to $20,000 of cigarettes.

The worker told shop owner Puneet Singh he was “begging [the robbers] not to kill him”.

“They tried to hit him on the head, but he brought his hands up to protect himself.”

READ MORE:
* Machete-wielding robber fractures shopkeeper’s skull, police seek assistance
* Dairy owner loses an eye during robbery in Hamilton
* Machete wielding robbers demand dairy worker sit on floor

And with a string of safety measures already in place at the dairy, Singh says “There is nothing more we can do. We just need guns I think”.

Singh said the worker’s thumb has been reattached, but they’re not yet sure how well it’s going to perform.

The man’s other hand was also injured as he tried to fend off the machete.

A neighbour was knocked out by the offenders after he was awoken by the injured man screaming and ran in his socks to help.

The neighbour, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he was still half-asleep.

“I ran out not even thinking about it. I was ill-prepared.”

The neighbour confronted the offenders – who he thought were youths – in front of the shop where they punched him, knocking him out, and swiped the machete across his leg.

“When I arrived on site I just saw one person, the fog cannon was already activated and the shopkeeper was inside screaming. I didn’t know there were others [offenders]. Then three others were there too, and I didn’t know they were armed.”

The man said his concern was for the shopkeeper as possessions can be replaced but “we’ve only got one life”.

“I didn’t expect to be punched. But I would rather get knocked out if it helps the shopkeeper.”

The man has lived on Irvine St for at least 30 years and it’s the second time he’s stepped in during a violent attack on a dairy staff member – the last time was the shopkeeper lost an eye in a lunchtime robbery in 2017, under different shop ownership.

He got a medical check-up but downplayed his actions, saying “I wasn’t great” and that it was “a blessing I walked away with grazes”.

Singh’s Irvine St store has bollards, fog cannon, panic button, CCTV, and a steel door.

“There is nothing more we can do. We just need guns I think,” he said. “If they are coming like that – they aren’t giving us any chance.”

Singh said selling cigarettes isn’t the problem, it’s the lack of consequences for the crime is the problem.

“Cigarettes are 40 to 45% of the sales and, if you don’t have cigarettes, customers won’t come here. They come to buy smokes, and then they buy other stuff like drinks and lollies.

“So if you don’t have smokes the sales won’t be enough to pay the bills. And we don’t make much with the smokes. A $30 pack makes us $3.”

Singh warns the Government if they don’t do anything it’s only going to get worse.

“If you can’t stop the crime now you won’t stop, this is still controllable as there has been no action against them.

“Once they know the consequences if they are caught, they could stop the family benefit and make the parents accountable for it.”.

Singh has been grateful for the support he’s received from the community and people have been dropping off gift cards and money for the injured staff member.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said they’re asking witnesses to the robbery to come forward.

“We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or events immediately after, or who has information about those involved.

“We would also like to hear from anyone who has private CCTV in the immediate area or surrounding streets, which may have captured footage of use to the investigation.”

If you can help, contact police on 105 or at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 Update My Report, referencing file number 221217/6333.