Police are on the hunt for two people involved in separate dairy robberies in Canterbury tonight - one of which involved an armed stand-up using a pistol.
Police were alerted to an attempted robbery at the Little Street Dairy on Hoon Hay Rd in Christchurch at 6pm, after two offenders entered the store and demanded cash and cigarettes.
One of the offenders was brandishing a pistol and threatened store staff with it, police said.
However, after the offenders were confronted by staff and a struggle ensued, they left the dairy empty handed.
Just 15 minutes later police were called to another dairy robbery on Selwyn St.
This time the offenders made off with a small amount tobacco and cash.
Police believe there are similarities between the two incidents and investigators are working on clarifying whether both have been committed by the same people.
Anyone with information on the robberies is being urged by police to contact Christchurch police on: (03) 363 7400 or report their information anonymously via: www.crimestoppers-nz.org.