A family of three was brutally thrashed by two robbers in Papakura on the night of Monday, November 27.
Nanu Patel, owner of the Opaheke Superette for 27 years was closing his dairy store just after 8:30 p.m. when two well-built men entered the shop and launched an unprovoked attack on the man.
Mr Patel called his wife and daughter for help who were sitting in the lounge of their adjoining Papakura house. The second robber went into Mr Patel’s house and attacked his wife Ms Hasumata Patel and their daughter.
"They beat me up on the ground. I was by the door. I was closing the shop and he wouldn't let me close it. He just came in and grabbed and tried to punch me in the face," Mr Patel told the NZ Herald.
Opaheke Superette in Papakura and the owner's adjoining house (Picture: Google Maps)
Mr Patel had his chest, eyes and head punched and received two stitches on his forehead. He also received a cut on his eyebrows.
Mr Patel’s wife also received grievous injuries to her head and face that led to a big sore on the right side of her face covering the eyes. The couple’s 30-year old daughter now has a broken jaw.
This is the second time the dairy has been robbed in the last two months.
“We are here for a long time and this is the worst attack on my family in the last 27 years,” Mr Patel told media.
Mr Patel’s son who was in his bedroom called the police from his mobile and the offenders ran from the shop when the police arrived.
Both the offenders were caught later that night as one of the alleged offender fought off the police but was tracked down by a police dog and arrested.
The offenders aged 19 and 28 appeared in the Manukau District Court and were charged with aggravated robbery and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
“He did not say a word and attacked us with his bare fists on my head while I tried to cover myself,” Mr Patel added.
“I was sitting here (in the lounge of the house) with my daughter when the man came in and started beating me up. The man came in, beat us up and then escaped from the door,” Ms Hasumata Patel said in a video.
Mr Patel's wife Ms Hasumata Patel showing her injuries after the attack (Picture: Screengrab from a public video)
The family received an immediate medical attention later Monday night and Mr Patel opened the shop on Tuesday, 11 a.m. after the police conducted a complete scene examination.
Papakura MP Judith Collins said the police had done great work apprehending the alleged offenders so quickly.
They are people that are going about their everyday lawful business and they've been traumatised by some horrible little thugs.
"One of the best ways dealing with seriously violent offenders is to put them in jail."
She said one of the offenders approached a nearby family claiming to be a victim, but the residents cottoned on quickly and alerted police. The other man was caught by a police dog, she said.
Members of the Papakura Spread the News Facebook page had also expressed dismay at the latest attack and offered their support to the family.
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