Senior Constable Julia Starkey, of Hastings police, said the offender (pictured), aged in his 30s, asked the cashier to change some coins and then appeared to deliberately drop them while the cash register was open. When the cashier bent down to pick them up he allegedly reached over and grabbed a handful of notes and ran from the store.
The offender was filmed on CCTV entering the store, in Eramosa Rd, several times before the heist.
“He’s gone in and looked around a few times and then left and come back smelling strongly of tobacco,” Senior Constable Starkey said.
“No one was physically harmed in the incident but the cashier is shaken up about it.”
The man is described as Caucasian, short brown hair, “pale and sickly” complexion, slim-to-medium build, wearing a fawn coloured zip-up jacket, round-neck brown jumper, blue jeans, discoloured white runners and black backpack.
Anyone with information should call Hasting police on 5970 7800.
