Bank robbed while police busy with bomb hoax

Whangarei Leader

CLOSED: The robbed ANZ bank.

Whangarei Leader

ON GUARD: A policeman at the scene of this morning's bank robbery was busy advising ANZ customers of alternative ATM machines after the robbery.

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A Whangarei bank was robbed today shortly after a bomb threat at a local high school, but police say it is not known whether the incidents are linked.

Police received an anonymous call at 10.50 saying three bombs had been planted at the school. The caller said it was not a joke and the bombs would explode, police said.

Emergency services and school staff evacuated more than 500 pupils from Tikipunga High School and the next-door Forest View Kindergarten.

While police were involved with the evacuation a man handed a note to a bank teller saying he did not want to hurt anybody and asking for cash at the ANZ Bank on Rathbone Street in the city. No weapons were seen.

Money was handed over before he left the bank and was seen getting into a taxi with a female.

Tikipunga High School Principal Peter Garelja said the school went into "emergency mode" after police called.

"The evacuation went really well considering it was during morning interval," Mr Garelja said.

"There's been talk it was linked to the bank robbery in town this morning ... if that was the case, our school is the furthest out of town, it would have been the most difficult for police to get back from to the central city fast."

Whangarei police area commander inspector Paul Dimery says it is just speculation at this stage that the bomb scare and the bank robbery are linked.

"There's nothing at this stage to link them but we’re keeping an open mind on this one."

Mr Dimery says Whangarei police staff are being stretched, with the police shooting of a woman in central Whangarei last Thursday and these two incidents today.

"The staff were under pressure anyhow and this sort of thing doesn't help."

Forest View Kindergarten support staff member Liz Dixon told Stuff.co.nz the evacuation had lasted about two hours, and the kindergarten had evacuated 23 children.

"Some teachers from the high school came down and told us it was a bomb scare.

"The kids behaved very well, it was good practice really."

Police described the bank robber as Maori with scruffy facial hair. He was wearing a black cap, a white/grey hoodie with the the word 'lowrider' written across the chest.

Witnesses are asked to contact Whangarei police on 09 430 4500.

- with DENISE PIPER, Whangarei Leader

- © Fairfax NZ News