Woman wanted for carving knife robbery

Security footage of the suspect carrying a carving knife. Picture NZPA / NZ Police

Detectives investigating last Friday's armed robbery of a central Wellington money exchange believe one of the three offenders may be a woman.

Wellington CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller said security photos captured at the scene indicated the offender with a carving knife could be a woman and not a man as first thought.

Another offender carried a firearm.

The robbers escaped with an unknown amount of money.

Mr Miller said officers were still looking through CCTV from shops in the Manners Mall area to help identify those responsible for the robbery.

"We have sightings of four people seen on the ground floor, inside the KPMG building in Victoria Street, shortly before 11am.

"One of the people had a dust mask and we know that the robbery offenders had dust masks on their faces."

Mr Miller said the offenders were seen on CCTV walking out of the KPMG building into Manners Mall and into the Grand Central Building where the robbery took place.

They probably had masks and balaclavas concealed until they reached the money exchange, he said.

While four people were seen in the group only three offenders committed the robbery.

Mr Miller appealed for people shopping or working in Manners Mall about 11am on Friday to come forward.

- NZPA