Armed gang grabs cash, jewels in string of raids

Bilkey & Co in Remuera Rd was one of the targets. Photo / Supplied

A highly organised gang is believed to have escaped with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and jewellery after a string of armed raids across the Auckland region.

The 10 attacks, which are being investigated by a team of 20 police officers, have mostly been on banks and guards collecting money but also include a jewellery store, bar and two home invasions where families were threatened with guns.

They appear to be well planned and in each case victims have been threatened with weapons, starting with screwdrivers but escalating more recently to firearms.

The offenders, who are believed to be in their 20s or early 30s, usually arrive and leave the scene of the crime in a stolen car which is later found dumped.

The latest getaway car, used in the robbery of an Armourguard van outside Pak'nSave Royal Oak on Thursday morning, was found later burning in Onehunga.

Detective Inspector Mark Gutry said police formed a special unit to investigate the crimes after noticing an increase in a certain kind of robbery across Greater Auckland during the past few months.

A group of up to six men are believed to have been responsible for at least 10 aggravated robberies but Mr Gutry said there might well be other cases which are being investigated.

One man, a 31-year-old from Papatoetoe, has already been arrested as part of Operation King and police have released a photograph of 26-year-old Vegas Kara, who they believe is also involved.

There is a warrant for his arrest in relation to the second aggravated robbery, which happened at Bilkey & Co Jewellers in Remuera on February 3.

In that incident, two men armed with screwdrivers entered the store after hours to steal jewellery.

Mr Gutry said the frequency of the aggravated robberies was increasing - with three on March 25 and others on March 30 and the first day of this month.

"Certainly we want to stop these guys," he said. "We are aware of two people. One has been arrested, [but] we know that there are other people involved in this."

Mr Gutry said it was "a little bit unusual" that the group was hitting such a variety of places, including homes.

He was not sure why two Asian families had been targeted in the home invasions, both of which occurred on March 25.

He did not think money for drugs was a motivating factor but could not rule it out altogether.

Police are now working to try to find some of the stolen property.

Mr Gutry appealed to the public for help in finding those responsible, saying the level of concern was growing with each crime.

"There's risk to everyone involved. Certainly they are becoming more frequent and our aim is to stop them as soon as possible."

Anyone with information about the aggravated robberies or Vegas Kara's whereabouts is asked to phone Counties Manukau police on (09) 261-1300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.