Armed robbers threatened 'serious' violence

Staff at a west Auckland bank were threatened with serious violence by an armed gang during a robbery yesterday afternoon.

Three robbers, at least one of whom was armed with a shotgun, held up the ASB Bank and a security vehicle at Westgate mall in Massey, about 4.50pm yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Peter Litherland of Henderson police said the amount of money stolen was small but police were treating it seriously.

"There was no direct violence used," he said.

"However, the threats used were at the very serious end of the scale."

The robbery happened after the bank had closed to the public. About eight staff were inside and the experience had been very tough for some of them, Mr Litherland said.

Other shops in the mall were still open, and several witnesses had seen the offenders running away, he said.

Mr Litherland said police were seeking public help to try to track the movements of two vehicles.

The robbers, who were disguised, drove away in a stolen white Honda station wagon, registration ENL609, which was abandoned in nearby Lazurite Drive, Massey.

"Inquiries have also established that the stolen Honda station wagon was parked in Humphrey Kemp Avenue in Glendene (a nearby west Auckland suburb) between 3.30pm and 4.15pm on the same day," Mr Litherland said.

After abandoning the Honda, the offenders got into a black station wagon with tinted windows.

Anyone who saw the stolen Honda in either Humphrey Kemp Ave or Lazurite Drive, or who saw the black station wagon leaving Lazurite Drive, was asked to call police.

- NZPA