KEY POINTS:
Auckland pharmacies are on alert for a man who has robbed eight shops of pseudoephedrine-based pills, the main ingredient for making methamphetamine.
The man was armed with a stun-gun in the latest robbery, which was at a chemist in Dominion Road on Monday morning.
In other robberies across Auckland since November, the man has alluded to having a firearm and chemist workers have seen him with a knife.
The man has been "assertive but not aggressive" in his demand for cold and flu products, said Constable Kerry Watson of the Henderson Police.
"We think he's acting on his own, but he's obviously getting rid of [the product]," he said.
The man, described as Maori, aged in his late 30s to early 40s, wears the same clothing in each robbery: a black beanie and sunglasses, black jacket and trousers, and black shoes.
He strikes at similar times - between 11am and 12pm or late afternoon and early evening.
Mr Watson described the man as "low-key" in his approach. He walks into a shop and asks for pseudoephedrine products.
"He doesn't present [a firearm]. He makes people believe [he has one]." The Dominion Rd chemist staff told police the man appeared to have a black gun with two metal points, similar to a stun gun.
The man leaves in different vehicles, which police believe are stolen or the plates are stolen.
Pseudoephedrine products can sell to drug makers for up to five times their retail price. The value of the methamphetamine market in New Zealand is thought to be more than $160 million a year, it was reported last week.
Police are investigating an electronic sales monitoring system that allows pharmacies to share information about pseudoephedrine sales.
The system is likely to be 18 months away, with issues such as privacy, funding and pharmacy involvement still to be resolved.
Robberies
The man wanted by police has been linked to the following robberies:
November 10: Pharmacy in Glendene
November 11: Pharmacy in Point Chevalier
November 13: Pharmacy in Green Bay
November 20: Pharmacy in Westgate
November 25: Pharmacy in Te Atatu
December 9: Pharmacy in Highland Park
January 1: Liquor Store next door to a closed pharmacy in Te Atatu
January 3: Pharmacy in Massey
January 8: Pharmacy in Dominion Road
