Security Christchurch

Cambridge Police are seeking a man following the attempted robbery of a bank in the town this morning.

Sergeant Gordon Grantham said the incident happened about 9.30am when a man walked into the Westpac Bank on Victoria St.

“He’s walked up to a teller and presented a note demanding money. When the teller has gone to confer with another staff member it appears the offender has panicked and fled the premises.”

Police are currently reviewing security footage of the incident to obtain a detailed description of the offender.

So far the only information confirmed is that he was a male wearing a cream coloured button up shirt, a dark cap and sunglasses.

At 3.00am on Saturday 20 June 2009, 3 masked males armed with a pistol, knife and tyre iron, robbed staff and patrons at the Bedrock Bar situated at 291 Lincoln Road, Addington.

Just as the bar had closed the robbers confronted a patron and a two staff members outside the rear of the bar, forcing them back into the bar where another patron was waiting to go home. The patrons and staff where held in the toilet while the robbers took money, cigarettes and alcohol before locking the patrons and staff in the bottle store and running off.

The robbers ran across Lincoln road into the Addingtown car park where they have made there getaway.
‘This is a brazen robbery where the robbers who were armed have been lying in wait at the rear of the bar. It is disturbing that a firearm has been presented.’ said Detective Sergeant Scott Anderson of the Hornby Police.

‘The robbers, we have been told seemed disorganized. The robbers have spent about 20 minutes inside the bar which is quite a while for a robbery’. ‘An early indication is that between 5-10 thousand dollars was stolen but this is just an indication until a more accurate audit is done’.

The robbers are described as male Maori or Pacific Islanders aged in their late teens early twenties. They were wearing hoodies and had scarf’s covering their faces.

Hamilton Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who tried to rob a City late yesterday afternoon.

And they are warning people to play it safe if confronted by a robber, not take steps that may aggravate the situation.

Detective Mark Watt of the Hamilton CIB said a man walked into the Mitcham Ave dairy about 5pm but left when he realised the number of people in the store.

“He’s returned about 5.30pm, walked up to the counter and presented a pistol at the shop attendant demanding money.

“The attendant has immediately ducked down behind the counter and the shop owner, who happened to be standing by a fridge at the end of the counter, has thrown a bottle of water at the offender which was sufficient to scare the man off.”

It was this action that has Police concerned with Mr Watt warning that the best action to take when confronted with an armed attacker is to comply with their demands.

“Obviously Police sympathise with the frustrations of small business owners but in this situation what would have happened if the bottle had hit the robber’s hand and the gun then gone off with what could have been tragic circumstances?

“We advise people that the safest course of action is to avoid heroics, do as the robber demands and phone 111 as soon as possible, money can be replaced but lives can’t.”

The offender has then fled down the hill on foot where Police believe he may have then run through adjacent netball courts to make his escape.

“The offender is described as a male Maori or Pacific Islander wearing and dark blue and light coloured beanie, dark sunglasses, a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans.

“The distinctive design on his hoodie was repeated on the back though the design was larger and we’re hoping someone may recognise it in the photograph and get hold of us,” said Mr Watt.