Police hope footage will provide clues to robbery

WANTED: The person who robbed the Greerton ANZ bank remains wanted by police, along with a co-offender who fled the scene in a dark grey Nissan. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The stolen getaway car used in an aggravated robbery of a Tauranga bank had been used in a petrol drive-off in Hamilton hours earlier.

Police will this weekend view CCTV footage from the fuel station when the dark grey Nissan Pulsar fled without payment about 1am on Thursday. The ANZ bank at Greerton was robbed about 2.30pm that day and the offenders remain at large.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said police had extended their investigations to consider the two offenders involved might have come from the Waikato or Rotorua areas.

The car was stolen from Te Awamutu shortly before the petrol drive-off and found dumped in Rotorua yesterday morning.

Hours later police released CCTV footage of the main offender as he (or she) demanded money from a bank teller before fleeing in the stolen car with another male.

Mr Brazier said police were keeping an open mind about the main offender's gender.

"It does look like a female. We are fairly confident it's a male but we haven't ruled out if the person is a female.

"There was certainly a female look about that person but the victim and bank staff, they are pretty sure he was a male - the way the person walked out and the mannerisms indicate he is a male."

The robber had handed over a note and demanded money from a teller before snatching the note up and taking off with a quantity of money. He then hopped into the stolen car with another male and the two "floored it" down Cameron Rd, according to witnesses.

Mr Brazier said police would like to hear from anyone who might have any information concerning the movements of the car, registration XD 2541, in the Waikato or Bay of Plenty areas from midday on Thursday, and anyone who recognised the offender.

If anyone thinks they might be able to help, they should call Tauranga police on (07) 577 4300 or anonymously via Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.