Quick Actions Result In Robbery Capture

New Zealand Police Wellington News Release
5:02pm 3 July 2008
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=4082

Quick actions by bank and police staff resulted in the swift capture of a man sought for the robbery of the Westpac Bank in Petone this morning.

Detective Sergeant Brent Murray, Lower Hutt CIB, said a CIB patrol stopped the man driving a dark coloured 4 wheel drive vehicle on State Highway 2 near Belmont, 15 to 20 minutes after the 11am robbery took place.

"Quick actions from the bank staff by providing details of the vehicle and the immediate response from Lower Hutt police staff with patrols flooding the area led the man being captured."

The man will appear in the Lower Hutt District Court tomorrow charged with the robbery which happened at at the Westpac branch on the corner of Jackson and Queen Streets.

Detective Sergeant Murray said the alleged robber walked into the bank and approached a young teller and supervisor demanding cash. "There was an indication he may have been armed although no weapon was seen.

"The staff complied with the demands and the man fled with a sum of cash. He was followed out of the bank and people saw him get into the vehicle parked in Queen Street and leave the area.

"The observations by bank staff and quick work by our people led to him being located," he said.

Police are talking with witnesses and ask that anyone who saw the robbery happen or the getaway, contact Lower Hutt CIB on telephone 04 560 2600.

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