Two Whangarei bank robbers still on run

Police investigate an armed robbery at the ANZ Bank on the corner of Rust Ave and Bank Street in Whangarei. PHOTO/ John Stone

Two masked robbers who fled from a central city bank in Whangarei yesterday remain on the run.

The ANZ bank was robbed about 11.30am yesterday by two people who left the bank with an unknown amount of cash.

Comments on social media about the robbery include people seeing people "on the run with bags of cash" and "plus people running out of their cars to grab whatever cash came flying out".

Police would not reveal how much had been taken or how much had been recovered. No arrests had been made overnight.

Former police officer, now Whangarei District Council councillor, Gavin Benney tried to stop the fleeing masked robbers.

However, he backed off temporarily when a sawn-off rifle was pointed at him.

He chased them again as they ran towards Second Ave until the offenders drove off in a red Holden Commodore.

Nine bank staff and two customers were in the bank at the time and no one was injured. The staff had been offered counselling.

The bank remained closed today.