Quick-thinking teller locks out would-be robbers

Witnesses are sought to the attempted robbery at the PSIS.

These would-be bank robbers were stopped in their tracks when a teller locked them out.

Counties-Manukau Police have issued images of the men, caught on security cameras, at the PSIS bank on Ronwood Ave in Manukau on Tuesday afternoon.

The two men walked through the first set of doors at the bank about 4.30pm, but a teller spotted them and activated the locking system for the second.

Detectives are looking into whether the incident is linked to a string of robberies across the Auckland region.

A gang is believed to have escaped with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and jewellery after 10 raids, mainly on banks and guards collecting money.

In the latest robbery attempt, four men pulled up at the PSIS in a stolen gold Nissan Maxima, registration RO4875, and two men got out.

"One of the males, carrying a red/orange sports bag, walked through the first set of doors into the entrance of the bank," said Detective Inspector Mark Gutry.

When they couldn't get in they took off in the stolen vehicle, which was found dumped at The Warehouse carpark on Cavendish Drive in Manukau.

Mr Gutry said police had had a good response from the public in their quest for information on the string of robberies.

"We're working to stop this group committing any more robberies and to investigate and apprehend ones they've done and we believe that we will be able to do that."

Anyone with information on the men pictured or any other robberies is urged to contact the Counties Manukau Police Crime Squad on (09) 261-1300 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555-111.