Bad driving leads to bank robbery arrest

An alleged bank robber's successful heist fell apart yesterday when his erratic driving after the event sparked several complaints to police and led to his quick arrest.

The alleged robber, a Hokianga 34-year-old, was arrested within an hour of the 11am hold-up, Detective Sergeant Russell Price of Whangarei said.

At Westpac's Kaikohe branch, a man had pulled a beanie down over his face and handed a short handwritten note to a bankteller, threatening action if she didn't hand over cash.

Money was quickly handed over to the man -- who did not use any weapons -- before he fled in a car.

But erratic driving resulted in several Kaikohe motorists calling police to complain.

"He was discourteous and failed to observe basic give-way rules. He had contact with a median barrier," Mr Price said.

The driver fled on foot when traced to a nearby house and was caught at another house about a kilometre from the bank.

Just 50 minutes after the bank was robbed, an arrest was made.

A 35-year-old woman, who lives at the house the alleged robber was found hiding at, was also arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact to robbery.

Both were to appear in the Kaikohe District Court today.

A Westpac spokesman said staff were shaken by the robbery and would be offered counselling.

Neither he nor police would say how much money was taken but the bank was reviewing its security measures.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)