• Armed robbers smashed into Takapuna restaurant Tokyo Bay Japanese on Auckland’s North Shore last night, threatening staff and stealing $400 cash.
• Staff defended themselves with chairs as the robbers wielded hammers and unidentified sharp objects.
• Armed police arrived shortly after the alleged offenders fled and are still hunting for those responsible.

Staff at a restaurant on Auckland’s North Shore protected themselves with chairs as armed robbers smashed their way through safety glass, made threats and fled with a small amount of cash.

Armed police were on the scene shortly after the incident at Japanese Takapuna eatery Tokyo Bay about 9.25pm on Sunday.

Tokyo Bay co-owner Mark Smith told the Herald five staff were inside the restaurant at the time, having just closed earlier for the night after a “really busy week”.

“They had closed the doors and curtains and all of a sudden, a car pulls up.”

Smith said two men exited the vehicle, one wearing a helmet and another wearing a hat and multiple bandannas, fully dressed. Both were armed with various weapons.

“You weren’t able to distinguish anything about them, so they were prepared for it,” he said.

The men began smashing the safety glass at the entrance to the eatery with hammers before entering, cutting themselves on glass surrounding the door during the process.

Tokyo Bay Japanese co-owner Mark Smith cleans up after last night's robbery. Photo / Michael Craig

“[They were] wielding sharp objects as well which we’re still yet to identify, but there were screwdrivers lying on the ground and things like that this morning,” Smith said.

“[They] very aggressively came in behind the counter and they were looking for cash.”

Smith said all five staff inside the eatery were threatened by the armed offenders, who didn’t say much, but demanded cash.

“[They were] really, really aggressive and the staff were holding chairs pretty much while they were swinging hammers around.”

The pair ripped out the restaurant’s cash float containing $400 before fleeing in the vehicle they arrived in – ignoring the high-end alcohol kept in the restaurant.

Smith – who wasn’t at the restaurant at the time, but was called while it was unfolding – said he arrived to see the destruction and armed police on the scene.

“[They] made a hell of a mess. Bottles and cans were everywhere, tools were ripped off. Glass was everywhere.”

He said staff were badly shaken after the incident, and he stayed with them for a few hours while police took statements.

Among those, Smith said, was a Japanese national who had only recently come to New Zealand and just finished her first evening shift at the restaurant.

“This is what she is greeted with. It was pure aggression and opportunism.”

Smith said the restaurant was fully booked for lunch and dinner on Monday, forecasting they had lost about $10,000 in sales due to the break-in. He had been calling all customers who had booked on Monday to advise of the 24-hour closure.

Smith said the restaurant was forced closed on Monday, losing out on thousands of dollars worth of sales. Photo / Michael Craig

“Thousands of dollars worth of damage and lost earnings for $400 cash... I feel embarrassed to be a New Zealander sometimes when this is what’s going on.

“Emotionally it’s not good for the staff and that’s the main thing, money doesn’t matter. We’re a successful place, we lead the pack and it’s just terrible what’s happened really for the staff.”

It would take a while for staff to recover.

“Certainly in the last 10 years since we’ve been here, we haven’t seen anything like this before.”

Police this morning said they were working hard to find those responsible and appealed for information from the public.

“The offenders have taken a number of items before leaving in a vehicle prior to police arrival.”

Armed police were at the scene shortly after the alleged offenders fled in a vehicle. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Police confirmed the weapons were not firearms and nobody was injured.

Smith said police had been conducting forensics on Monday and among evidence at the scene was blood from an assailant after allegedly cutting themselves on the safety glass.

An NZME photographer said police cordoned off The Strand while they investigated the incident last night.

Photos from the scene show glass strewn over the floor of the restaurant from the smashed windows.

A staff member from a neighbouring restaurant earlier told the Herald they ushered diners into the back of their premises while the robbery took place next door.

“There were a few customers in our restaurant so we closed the doors and moved everyone into the kitchen at the back.”

He said one manager from Tokyo Bar came in screaming and crying after the incident, saying they had been robbed and asking for help.

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.