Bank camera catches robber's bare-faced boldness

The robber's face is clearly captured in the security images. Photo / Supplied

This is the moment a robber calmly walked into a Manukau bank, took a businessman's takings for the week, and walked out again.

A series of photographs taken by the bank's security cameras show a man with his face uncovered walking into the bank at the Westfield shopping centre, on the corner of Great South Rd and Wiri Station Road, and approaching a local businessman who was depositing cash at the counter.

Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher said the teller had started counting the money when the man walked up and threatened him and the businessman, saying he had a firearm in his bag.

He then bundled the money from the counter into his bag and left the bank.

Police said the holdup - the second at a Manukau bank in less than a week - was probably not connected to the robbery of an Armourguard security van at the corner Great South Road and Ronwood Avenue on Friday.

Police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey said the businessman told police he could feel something sticking into his back as the robber told him he was taking his money.

He said he had a pistol and that his friend was waiting outside with another pistol.

There was no evidence of a second offender.

Ms Gates-Bowey said the robbery appeared to be opportunistic.

About 15 people were in the bank during the robbery, but no one apart from the teller and the businessman saw the robbery.

Police would not say how much money was stolen.

Ms Gates-Bowey said the businessman was depositing his week's takings, and the robber did not take all of the deposit.

Banking sources spoken to by the Herald said National Bank was likely to cover the loss of money taken from inside its premises.

Counties-Manukau police want to talk to anyone who may have seen the offender in the Manukau area.

They are also investigating Friday's hold-up of an Armourguard driver, who was robbed of money bags containing $200,000.

Police investigating the Armourguard robbery were asking for information yesterday from people living around the area where the alleged offender left a stolen 1998 white Subaru Impreza, registration number END922.