Tauranga Police are searching for the man who robbed Mag's Cards and Lotto shop on Cameron Road this morning.

Senior Sergeant Eddie Lyttle says a male with his face covered walked into the store about 9.47am and demanded cash from the owner at knife point.

Police search for the driver of a stolen vehicle at River Oak Drive. It is not yet known if the two incidents are linked.

The man was last seen by store staff running out the door towards Tauranga Hospital.

The amount taken has yet to be established.

Eddie says the alleged robber is described as a male, possibly Maori, approximately 185cm tall, and of solid build.

He is thought to be wearing a dark hoodie with the hood pulled over his head, dark pants, black woollen gloves and dark shoes.

The owner of the store told SunLive he was threatened with a small knife.

Following the incident, police cordoned off the area in search of the offender. Eddie says it was during that search Police encountered a stolen dark-coloured Subaru Forrester vehicle on Koromiko Street, Tauranga.

The stolen vehicle was pursued onto Waihi Road where the Subaru crashed into a second vehicle, but continued up Waihi with stopping.

The Subaru then hit another moving vehicle and parked car shortly afterwards, resulting in the pursuit being abandoned by police.

Minutes later, the Subaru was seen by another police patrol vehicle driving on Cambridge Road towards Tauriko.

'However the pursuit did not re-engage,” says Eddie. 'Due to the damage to the Subaru and with the excellent assistance of members of the public, the Subaru was located on River Oak Drive.”

He says the driver and passenger of the Subaru ran off but was tracked by a police dog to an area nearby. Both were arrested and taken into custody.

The investigation into the aggravated robbery is continuing and police are trying to establish whether the two incidents are related.

Eddie says police are very happy with the assistance of the public, which played a major role in locating the Subaru.

Investigations into both events are underway. Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the offender leaving the scene of the robbery near Tauranga Hospital and 17th Avenue, or may have any information that may lead to identifying who is responsible.

Information can be passed onto the Tauranga Police on 5774300 or provided anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.