Raid traumatises bank staff

An investigator checks the doorway of the Blockhouse Bay Westpac for clues. Photo / Dean Purcell

Workers were left traumatised after two robbers held up a bank yesterday - Auckland's second daytime heist in two days.

Frightened staff at the Westpac in Blockhouse Bay received counselling after the armed robbers struck shortly before 2.40pm.

The day before, two armed and hooded men forced five terrified customers to the ground at the ASB in Three Kings Plaza and threatened the bank's security guard with a gun.

Last night, a Westpac spokeswoman said she could not give details of the Blockhouse Bay robbery other than to say it had been "very stressful and traumatic" for the staff.

Investigators dressed in overalls and wearing face masks could be seen last night dusting the doorway of the bank for clues.

A sign on the glass door read: "We regret this branch is temporarily closed following a robbery."

A woman from Audiology Associates, situated underneath the bank, said the first she heard of the robbery was when the police cars arrived.

She said three female bank staff and a small number of civilians were taken away in police vehicles.