Woman 'shoe box bomber' charged

A woman who allegedly took a home-made bomb into a bank and demanded money from the teller has been arrested.

Her partner has also been arrested in relation to an aggravated robbery of a Post Shop in Hamilton.

The man allegedly demanded money from the teller, saying a bomb outside would be detonated if he wasn't paid.

The pair, aged 19 and 17, are being questioned by police and are due to appear in court this afternoon.

Waikato police spokesman Andrew McAlley said the bomb found in the ANZ Te Rapa branch on Monday was an improvised explosive device.

A bomb squad from Auckland was called to examine the bomb - left in a shoe box - and roads had to be closed off.

He said no bomb was found at the Post Shop robbery yesterday - also in Te Rapa - although the man allegedly told the teller there was one outside.

Police found the car - an off-white Skyline - which the woman left the bank in and some cash at an address this morning.

- NZ HERALD STAFF