Hot robber's face-flash puts heat on gang

Police want to find this man, who overheated in front of a surveillance camera.

An overheated armed robbery suspect has been caught lifting his balaclava in front of a surveillance camera.

Police have distributed a photograph of the man, believed to be the main offender in a group which held eight patrons and a barmaid hostage at gunpoint in Rotorua's Ruck'n Maul bar on Sunday night.

Police believe the man was hot and pulled up his balaclava in a place where he thought he was not observed.

Five people are being sought for the hold-up.

Two patrons were bashed in the robbery, which lasted 10 minutes and ended when the raiders fled with an unknown amount of cash.

Two of the robbers carried guns and ordered barmaid Stevie Mitchell to open 16 poker machines as patrons cowered on the floor.

Ms Mitchell was also forced to hand over the keys to her Nissan Primera.

Detective Sergeant Garry Hawkins said the victims had been through an ordeal which had "the potential for homicide".

Mr Hawkins said the robbers were unlikely to have taken unloaded weapons when entering a bar where patrons were drinking.

Police are also looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy stationwagon seen at Kuirau Park in the central city before the 8.30pm robbery.

The robbers dumped Ms Mitchell's car at the park and police believe the Subaru was driven by accomplices waiting to pick them up.

* Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotorua police on (0800) Tip Off or (07) 348-0099.