Escaping law easy, just hail a taxi

A Christchurch bank robber decided not to bother with a getaway car yesterday - he left in a taxi instead.

Police believe the distinctively tattooed Anthony Grafton, who has tattoos of a tear and a cross on his cheek, could be the man responsible for robbing the Westpac New Brighton branch.

Grafton is also believed to have committed another bank robbery in the city on Tuesday, at the central city branch of the BNZ.

"We believe we have to consider the possibility the two [robberies] are linked, considering the similarity of description [and] ... how the activity took place," said Detective Sergeant Ken Legat.

A man entered the bank about 11.25am yesterday and handed the teller a note warning he had a weapon and demanding money before leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Mr Legat said the man got into a taxi nearby and the driver unwittingly became a getaway driver. The driver later realised he had transported a bank robber and showed police where he had left the man.

Police searched a house but did not find the man they sought.

On Tuesday, a man walked into the BNZ branch and a similar note was handed to the teller demanding money. He knocked over two people as he fled the bank.

The man was described as caucasian, about 40, with long, straggly dark hair and tattoos of a cross and tear on his face.

In yesterday's robbery, the person responsible was described as 30 to 40 years old, with olive skin and tattoos on his neck and hand.

Police last night asked for public help to find Grafton but warned against approaching him. "The guy is looking at one, possibly two robberies, and it's not the normal behaviour to do those sorts of things," Mr Legat said. "We have just got to consider the worst possibilities."

It was believed Grafton was still in Christchurch last night.