By SCOTT INGLIS
A police taskforce will today start hunting a gang of knife-wielding robbers who have snatched up to $15,000 in three South Auckland bank raids over 11 days.
Detectives have compared the robbers to the infamous "screwdriver gang" - allegedly responsible for five Auckland bank robberies and now facing court trial - and warn that they will put the criminal underworld under heavy pressure if the robbers strike again.
The robbers, led by a man who always wears a beanie and sunglasses, first struck the Manurewa ANZ in Great South Rd on July 13 at 1.45 pm, escaping with $10,000.
The accomplice was refused money by two tellers and the manager, who each stepped back from the counter and away from his knife.
But the main robber roughly pushed an old man out of the way so he could hold his knife close to a third teller, who was seated and unable to escape.
The pair fled on foot with their haul.
One man has been arrested in connection with the robbery but refuses to talk to police.
A week later, at 1.49 pm on July 20, two robbers burst into the East Tamaki ANZ.
The main robber, wearing a red and black jacket, his sunglasses and beanie, shoved a customer to get to a teller.
His accomplice stood guard next to the main doors. The pair escaped in a white Nissan car.
Yesterday, at 9.26 am, the gang struck a third time, with two men taking money from two tellers at the Hunter's Corner WestpacTrust.
The head robber was wearing his trademark red and black jacket and sunglasses; the other had a hood over his head and bandana below his chin.
Detective Sergeant Wayne Lendrum told the Herald detectives believed the robbers would strike again unless locked up.
He said they showed signs of professionalism. "They obviously know what they are doing. There's no mucking around, and if the teller is serving somebody, they get shoved out of the way."
Anyone with information can ring police confidentially and police might pay if it helps them to solve the case.
Detective Sergeant Lendrum warned that detectives would have to target other criminals if the gang struck again. "We're going to start rattling cages and no doubt people will start getting caught in the cross-fire."
South Auckland police are also hunting a group of teenage robbers who have stabbed three people and stolen nearly $1000 in four violent superette raids.
A gang of highly organised gun-toting robbers are also still on the loose, after repeatedly hitting Armourguard in Auckland last year, and escaping with close to $200,000.
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