Tauranga man charged with bank robbery

Tauranga police have arrested a 22-year-old local man for the armed robbery of a Westpac Bank branch last week.

Adam Leatham was arrested on Saturday and appeared in Tauranga District Court this morning on five charges related to the robbery on Tuesday, May 23.

Police alleged that Leatham, dressed in orange overalls and a balaclava and brandishing a pistol, stole nearly $6300 from the Cherrywood branch about 3.15pm.

He then attempted to hijack cars outside the bank, punching an elderly man and threatening him with his gun, before eventually making his escape in a woman's black Mitsubishi Mirage.

The car was later found abandoned in the Tauranga suburb of Otumoetai.

He will be back in court on Friday to enter a plea.

Detective Sergeant Lew Warner said police were interested in hearing from anyone who had witnessed "suspicious activity" in the toilet area and car park opposite the bank from 2pm on Tuesday.

Investigators would also be interested in any sightings of a person running in Fairmont Terrace, Glenn Terrace or the Ridge Street area, where the alleged getaway car was dumped.

- NZPA