Robber points rifle during violent hold-up

A masked robber points his gun at a customer. Photo / Supplied

This was the moment when an armed robber pointed his rifle at a Kiwibank customer before ordering a dozen people to the floor in what police say was a callous and aggressive hold-up.

The robber held up the Chartwell branch in Hamilton, with an accomplice, about 10.30am on Saturday before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Images captured from CCTV footage show two men, both wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and bandanas over their faces.

Detective Chris McRae described the armed robbery as "particularly aggressive" and said that customers being threatened with firearms was highly unusual.

"Obviously you had a person carrying a firearm and dominating the people there to get them on the ground," said Mr McRae. "That could have been any one of our grandmothers or brothers or sisters."

Mr McRae said the robber with the firearm also threatened others, ordering the 12 or so customers in the bank to lie on the floor.

As he was doing this, his accomplice demanded cash from tellers before the pair left, running to a waiting car, where another person was behind the wheel. A fourth person may have also been in the car.

Kiwibank spokesman Bruce Thompson said staff were recovering from what was "a traumatic and very unnerving experience".

"No one was hurt but they were very shaken by what happened," he said.

Police are concerned about the degree of organisation and violence used.

"Given the offenders appear to think little of threatening people with firearms, it's vital we locate them as soon as possible before they reoffend," said Mr McRae. "To do that, we need the public's help. We want to speak to anyone who may have information on the offenders' identities or who witnessed the robbery."

The robbers fled in a grey 1997 Nissan SRV hatchback, registration BTK243, which had been stolen from the Hillcrest Warehouse car park on Friday.

It was recovered a short time after the robbery at nearby Donny Park.
* Anyone with information on Saturday's robbery is asked to contact the Hamilton CIB on (07) 858-6200 or pass it anonymously on to 0800 CrimeStoppers (0800 555-111).