Avondale Police are releasing CCTV footage of two unsolved bank robberies, one of which involved an offender with bandages on his face and his arm in a sling.
Detectives believe the robberies are linked. Investigations have been underway for some months but no arrests have been made and Police would like to hear from anyone with information.
The first robbery took place on Friday 11 December at the Westforce Credit Union on Great North Road. The credit union was full of customers at the time. Both videos are up now on the Auckland City Police Facebook page.
“This is not your usual bank robber. He has plasters all over his face, his arm in a sling and sunglasses on. But while he looks comical, he has pulled a gun out of the sling and shown it to the teller, as a mother and her son are standing right next to him” says Detective Senior Sergeant Marcia Murray, Avondale Police.
The man made the teller empty the tills before fleeing . Police attended but the man could not be located and despite CIB enquiries he was not identified.
Investigations continued but four months later, the same premises was robbed again.
At 2.20pm on Tuesday 12 April a man entered the same Credit union, approaching the front counter with a bag and demanding money from the teller.
“This time round the man has his face covered with a bandana, his hoodie is up and he’s wearing sunglasses. He’s holding a double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun which can be seen by the teller” says Det Snr Sgt Murray.
Again the man takes the money and flees down a driveway next to the building.
Both incidents lasted less than a minute.
“Our CIB team has been looking into these for some time and we have exhausted a number of lines of enquiry. We believe they are linked and we strongly believe that the person/s responsible will have told someone. This is a person who will have suddenly had a lot of money that he didn’t have before, and family members or friends might have wondered why” says Det Snr Sgt Murray.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Avondale CIB on 09 213 8448.
Information can also be given anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Beth Bates/NZ Police