Northland police are investigating three aggravated robberies of a dairy and two liquor stores on the same evening.
Weapons were used and small amounts of cash taken during each robbery on Saturday.
Senior Sergeant Darren Sullivan said about 4.45pm on Saturday, three men wearing disguises entered Price Cutter on Commerce St in Kaitaia armed with weapons, including a knife and a screwdriver.
They demanded money and cigarettes.
An undisclosed amount of money was given before all left on foot.
The lone shop worker was not injured.
The dairy owner said despite his business being robbed three or four times in the past, he has no option but to continue trading.
Thankfully his employee was not injured during the robbery, he said.
Around the same time, a man wearing a bandanna and a pair of sunglasses entered Super Liquor on Three Mile Bush Rd in Kamo and pulled a weapon similar to a small hatchet.
He threatened staff and two customers before fleeing with cash and cigarettes.
No one was injured.
In the third robbery, Mr Sullivan said two men wearing disguises entered a liquor outlet on Manse St in Regent and demanded cash.
One was armed with a golf club which he swung at a confectionery stand to intimidate staff.
The other man went to the counter, carrying a couple of knives, and took an amount of cash before both left on foot.
Mr Sullivan said police attended to all three robberies and made inquiries in the area but could not locate the offenders.
Police are looking at whether CCTV footage may be able to assist.
It was hard to say whether all the robberies or the ones that took place in Whangarei were linked, Mr Sullivan said.
"These sort of robberies are a concern to police and we are working with the business owners. They appear to be somewhat opportunistic," he said.
Anyone with information about the aggravated robberies can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.