Armed men threaten baker and employee

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Three armed men threatened a bakery shop owner with firearms then forced a female employee to the ground before stealing her car.

Lay Lam Ho, of Paetiki Bakery, was working in his Taupo shop about 3am yesterday when one of his staff members disturbed three men, armed with pistols and a crowbar, trying to break into a neighbouring takeaway shop.

One of the men walked up to Mr Ho and pushed a sawn-off shotgun into his face, while the other men forced his 22-year-old female employee to the ground and demanded her car keys, he said.

"It was pretty scary ... My staff member was able to run away and I quickly locked the door."

The three intruders decided to abandon their quest to burgle the shop and fled in the staff member's car.

Police found the vehicle in nearby Terence St 30 minutes later.

Detective Sergeant Tony Manunui said the employee had just started work when she disturbed the three men.

The woman was shaken but not injured and was recovering at home, he said.

Police want to hear from anyone with information about the attack.

In 2010 Cambodian-born Mr Ho, 40, won two gold medals in the national piemaking finals.

- © Fairfax NZ News