Another armed robbery of security van

Police are investigating a second armed robbery on a security van in Auckland in three days.

North Shore police were this morning at the scene of an armed robbery at the National Bank in William Pickering Drive, Albany South, where a sum of money was taken at gun-point from security guards refilling an ATM machine.

As one guard entered the premises a man described as a male Maori of medium build, aged about 30 years and wearing dark clothing, approached the second guard, pointing a sawn-off shotgun at him, forcing him into the bank.

The guards were made to open a cash box and then to lie on the ground as the offender made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

A second offender was heard but not seen.

No vehicle was seen or heard leaving the scene and police are appealing for members of the public who may have seen two or more men leaving the area of the bank just before 8am to contact them.

Detective Sergeant Steve Pivac, of North Shore Policing Centre, also appealed to people working or living in the area to keep a lookout for any suspicious vehicles that may have been abandoned near the bank.

The robbery follows an incident in Royal Oak, near Mt Albert, on Monday when security guards were forced to hand over cash at gunpoint.

Two men seized cash bags from Chubb security guards outside an ASB Bank branch at Greenwood Corner in Royal Oak about 5pm.

Police have yet to say how much cash was stolen.

The two robbers fled in a Nissan car, and police confirmed yesterday they had seized a Nissan Bluebird and a Toyota which were being examined for clues.

One of the men wore a motorcycle helmet. The other had short dreadlocks.

- NZPA