Three Armed Robberies At Auckland Banks

Two ASB banks have been robbed in Auckland in the last two days, both by thieves brandishing firearms.

The first was at 4.20pm on Friday at the Blockhouse Bay branch
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And the second at the ASB at Westfield St Lukes at 9am today

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Significant amounts of cash were taken in both robberies.

There was also an aggravated robbery on the 10 June at the National Bank on Queens Street.

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The thief, armed with a screwdriver, was also said to have escaped with a "significant" amount of cash but was apprehended a short time later.

In 2008 there was a total of 1,160 recorded aggravated robberies in New Zealand, of those 163 were firearm related and 223 used a stabbing or cutting weapon, source NZ statistics.

News reports of aggravated robberies in which a firearm or other weapon was used in 2009 include:
24 June: Angus Inn bottle shop, Hastings, 7pm
24 June: Mitcham Avenue Dairy, Hamilton 5.30pm
24 June: Kiwibank, Frankton, Hamilton, 2.40pm
24 June: Westpac Bank, Hamilton East, 10.10am
22 June: Worcester Tavern, Linwood, Chch. man robbed staff and patron, 11 am
20 June: Bedrock Bar, Addington, Chch. three men robbed staff and patrons, 3.00am
19 June: BNZ Bank, Birkenhead
17 June: Kiwibank, Takanini, 10.40am
16 June: Armourguard van Arthur's Bar and Grill, Onehunga, Akl, 1.00pm.
15 June: Spot On Dairy, Gisborne, midday
13 June: ASB Bank, St Lukes Shopping Centre, 9am
13 June: ANZ Bank, Upper Hut, 2.20pm
12 June: ASB Bank, Blockhouse Bay, 4.20pm
10 June: National Bank, Auckland, 2pm (weapon used was a screwdriver)
10 June: Caspar Dairy, Papatoetoe
9 June: ASB Bank Mt Roskill, (Axe) 3.05pm
9 June: Kiwibank PostShop, Balmoral, 2.45pm
3 June: Heretaunga Hospital Store, Palmerston North, 10am
5 June: Good Tukka Takeaway, Opotiki, 2 youths ages 13 & 15 arrested
5 June: Bus Driver, Lyall Bay, Wellington, 8.30pm (weapon used was a screwdriver)
4 June: ANZ Bank, St Lukes

29 May: TAB Dominion Road
28 May: Fairview Downs Superette, Hamilton 11.30.am
27 May: Armourguard van, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Akl,
24 May: BP Service station, Whitford village, 7pm
23 May: Main Street Fish n Chips, Blenheim, 6pm
22 May: ASB Bank, Panmure, 2:30pm
18 May: Mag and Tyre Direct, New Lynn, 8.30am
17 May: Pricecutter Superette, Helensville, 7.15pm
15 May: Westpac Bank, Parnell, 2:45pm
11 May: Botany Town Centre. Shopper robbed in carpark at gunpoint, 10:45am
2 May: Westpac Bank, Kilbirnie, Wellington, 11.20am

27 April: Aotea Crescent Chinese takeaway, Tokoroa, at night
20 April: Dairy, Whangarei - lead to a high speed chase
11 April: Bigsave variety store, Whangarei (knife)
11 April: Outdoor Connection, Whangarei (knife)
2 April: Dairy, Lipscombe Cres. Havelock Nth. Accused was bailed & then crashed

28 March: Tower Post Office, Christchurch, 8am
23 March: Bishopdale Discounter Dairy, Chch, 7.50pm
16 March: National Bank, Manukau 11.45am
13 March: BNZ Bank, Manukau. Armourguard robbed of $200,000, 5:22pm
7 March: Alabaster Pharmacy, Merivale, Chch. (Petrol poured over pharmacist)
2 March: Dissmeyer Superette, Otara, groceries stolen
1 March: Edendale Superette, cigs, ice cream and cash, 8:15am

25 February: Westpac Bank, Browns Bay, Ak,. 11am
10 February: Il Bordello Brothel, Wellington. Lone female receptionist at night
2 February: ASB Bank, Orewa
1 February: New World Supermarket, Clendon, 10am
26 January: Tiraumea Superette, Pakuranga 3.30pm female police officer beaten up

23 January: Dairy, Eugenia Rise Manurewa, S Auckland
19 January: Cedar Superette, Manurewa, S Auckland
16 January: Sunny Brae Dairy, Manurewa, S Auckland
14 January: Shell station, Newtown, Wellington, about 5.20am and again at 9am (axe)
14 January: Caltex station, Miramar, Wellington, about 8.20am (axe)
7 January: Westpac Bank, Onehunga
4 January: Wordsworth Rd superette, Manurewa, S Auckland
New Year's eve: Shell service station in Tauranga, weapon not specified

Surge in brazen and violent armed robberies

Also see: Armed robbery at girls high school