Man charged with bank robberies

Whangarei police have charged an Auckland man with robbing two ASB Bank branches in West Auckland in June and July and the armed robbery of a credit union office in Whangarei in June.

Frederick Robin Nikora Wharewaka, 23, unemployed, appeared in the Whangarei District Court yesterday where he entered no plea and was remanded in custody to appear again tomorrow.

About $2000 is alleged to have been taken during the two ASB holdups, and $600 from the West Force Credit Union in Whangarei.

Nobody was hurt but police said all three woman tellers had been distressed and shaken.