Beanie bandit wanted for four bank raids

The bandit is captured on bank security cameras during some of the four hold-ups police suspect him of committing.

Police believe the same brazen beanie-wearing bank robber is responsible for four hold-ups in Auckland and Hamilton in the past few weeks.

On each occasion the man hands a note to the teller demanding money and threatening staff.

He makes no attempt to cover his face, wearing only a beanie or cap as a disguise.

The latest robbery happened on November 6 at the ASB on the corner of Victoria and Federal Sts in Auckland opposite the Sky Tower.

The man had previously struck the Hamilton East branch of the BNZ in Grey St on October 27 which spurred a large-scale chase and search of several buses around The Base shopping centre.

Police had been tipped off that the robber would be on one of the buses but later said the tip was a "red herring".

A customer standing in the queue behind the offender had also chased him along Grey St but lost him when he turned down an alley at the back of Sacred Heart High School.

"While we're appreciative of this, we'd prefer people don't put themselves at risk, rather that they contact police and allow us to do follow-up inquiries," Detective Daryl Smith of the Hamilton CIB said yesterday.

The first two robberies happened at the Westfield Shopping Centre in the Hamilton suburb of Chartwell.

On October 15 the robber hit the Westpac bank and on October 2, the ASB.

"He approaches the counter and hands over a note demanding money while threatening staff," Mr Smith said. "He's of large build and it would be fair to say someone of his size acting in this way would be intimidating to any victim."

The man is described as Polynesian, aged between 25 and 35, of solid build and about 1.83m in height.

During the robberies he has worn either a black beanie, a black and green beanie or a green cap. On one occasion he was dressed in a black jersey, green cargo pants and dark shoes. On another, he wore a dark top and dark track pants.

During one of the robberies it appeared he had a fair-coloured goatee.

Mr Smith said: "Even if you just think you might know who this person is we want to hear from you."

THE ROBBERIES

*October 2: ASB, Westfield Shopping Centre, Chartwell, Hamilton.

*October 15, 1.47pm: Westpac, Westfield Shopping Centre, Chartwell, Hamilton.

*October 27, 10.15am: BNZ, Hamilton East.

*November 6: ASB, Victoria St, Auckland City.

Contact Hamilton police on (07) 858-6200 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555-111.