Straight through - robbers beat security

Photo / Supplied

Police are hunting two men who stormed a South Auckland bank with a sawn-off shotgun and pushed through the plexiglass teller barrier to steal foreign cash.

They are also investigating links to a failed robbery about 7km away, half an hour earlier.

Finsec, the finance sector union, says bank workers are increasingly scared about their safety as Auckland robberies become more violent and involve weapons.

About 3.50pm on Monday, customers were ordered to the floor at the BNZ on St George St in Old Papatoetoe. No one was hurt but staff were offered stress counselling.

"This sort of incident is always traumatic for the people involved," said Counties-Manukau Detective Inspector Mark Gutry.

Finsec spokesman Andrew Campbell said security had become a big issue for members of the union.

"Two or three years ago when we were running meetings ... it essentially never came up, and now it's increasingly common," he said.

The heist happened half an hour after a failed robbery at another BNZ branch, 7km away in Flat Bush.

Two disguised men were prevented from robbing the bank when staff locked the second set of security doors.

The men fled in a stolen Mazda Familia, later found abandoned.

Half an hour later, there was a similar incident in Papatoetoe.

Two men armed with an "older style over-and-under sawn-off shotgun" forced their way through the plexiglass panelling at the counter.

Mr Gutry refused to say how much money had been taken or what type of currency it was, but confirmed police were considering whether the two robberies could involve the same offenders.

BNZ national security and fraud manager Owen Loeffellechner said there was "no significance in the penetration of the poly-carbonite screen".

"In the sense that there are multiple protection layers around what we try to do to protect our staff and customers," he said.

"But one on its own normally would not be [enough] to stop ... an aggravated robbery with the level of intent and focus that these guys demonstrated."

Mr Loeffellechner worked with "very traumatised" staff and customers after Monday's robbery.

* Anyone with information on the men described is urged to contact Counties-Manukau Police on (09)295-0200 or (027)2285862, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

POLICE HUNTING

Robber No 1: Man wearing black adidas All Blacks vest, dark hooded jacket, sunglasses, red bandanna over mouth and nose, nylon tracksuit pants with white stripe, black shoes and white gloves with black markings on the inside, carrying blue bag.

Robber No 2: Man wearing black cap with grey trim around the peak, black sweatshirt with hood up, grey cloth or T-shirt over nose and mouth, black gloves, white socks and black tracksuit pants.