Police close in on ghost robbers

Police are confident of making arrests soon. Photo / Supplied

Police are closing in on the remaining three "ghost robbers" behind an armed bank heist, following one arrest.

The masked ghost robbers had been on the run for more than a week after holding up a Katikati Kiwibank and a Te Puke jewellery store.

The crimes were part of a spate of armed holdups, including robberies at Westpac banks in Christchurch, Whakatane and Opotiki this week.

Arrests have been made in both the Bay of Plenty incidents. One man was arrested on Friday after photos of the robbers wearing white ghost masks were released by Tauranga police. A 19-year-old unemployed man was due to appear in the Rotorua District Court yesterday charged with two aggravated robberies and unlawfully taking two vehicles.

Police believe four men were involved in the incidents on July 24, including one who waited outside in a stolen vehicle. Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said officers were following leads on the remaining three, thought to be Rotorua residents.

At Christchurch's St Martins Westpac branch, a man presented a note to a teller saying he had a handgun and demanding money. He escaped on a BMX bike with $960.

The Herald on Sunday revealed last month that bank robberies had increased from about 20 each year from 2000 to 2006, to 58 hold-ups last year.

Andrew Campbell, spokesman for banking worker's union Finsec, said a meeting was being arranged with the major banks to discuss security issues.

He said banks had good procedures to support workers immediately after a robbery, but he also wanted to look at long-term effects on staff.