Brazen robber still on loose

The wanted man at The Mall in Onehunga. NZPA/NZ Police

A brazen robber who has struck at three Auckland National Bank branches in the past six months is still on the loose in spite of clear security camera pictures showing him in the middle of each robbery.

The man is armed with a knife and police fear he may use it if he is not caught.

Detective Sergeant Pete Steward said the man, who carried out all three robberies on a Friday, did not appear to be worried about being caught on security cameras.

His latest robbery was last Friday when he walked into the National Bank in the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert about 4pm on Friday, presented the knife and demanded money from staff,

The other robberies were the National Bank at The Mall, Onehunga, on July 23 and the National Bank branch at Dominion Rd, Mt Eden on November 5.

The bearded robber wore a black beanie in the first two robberies but removed his hat for last week's robbery.

Mr Steward said no one had yet identified the man but he needed to be taken off the streets before someone was hurt.

"We actually don't know what he will do and so far we have been reasonably lucky that it has just been in there, get the money and away he goes," he said.

"But it is difficult to predict what he is going to get up to."

The man was described as Maori or Polynesian, aged between 25 and 35.

- NZPA