Police after stubbies-wearing bank robber

Police are hunting for the man and a green Subaru station wagon he is believed have used to flee with the money he stole from the Waiuku ASB Bank.

A brazen bank robber wearing shorts and claiming to have a weapon has made off with money in a wine cooler bag from a South Auckland bank.

Police are now hunting for the man and a green Subaru station wagon he is believed to have used in his getaway from the Waiuku branch of ASB Bank yesterday.

Detective James Ralph said the man entered the bank with a scarf covering his face about 1.50pm.

Mr Ralph said he approached a teller and indicated he had a firearm, before asking her to put money into a wine cooler bag.

"The inference he made was that it was a firearm."

The teller complied and the robber left the bank with an undisclosed sum of money.

Initial reports that the man had fled the scene on a bicycle were incorrect, said Mr Ralph. It was not clear if the man actually had a weapon or if he was driving the Subaru.

Mr Ralph said the offender was described as Maori and aged in his mid-20s.

He had a thin build and was about 1.8m tall.

CCTV footage from the bank showed the man with his face covered, wearing shorts and clutching the wine cooler bag as he fled the bank.

No one was injured during the robbery.

When approached for comment, an ASB Bank spokeswoman sent a statement to the Herald that said: "Our only comment at this stage is that all staff are unharmed and the matter is being investigated by the police."

Anyone with information about the robbery can phone Detective James Ralph on 09 261 1300, or leave an anonymous tip via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.