No Lead Found To Robbers

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32145, 14 November 1969, Page 1

No Lead Found To Robbers

(New Zealand Press Association) WHANGAREI, November 13. No lead was found today to the two men who robbed the National Bank in Kaitaia yesterday, in spite of a full day’s investigation by Northland and Auckland C.LB. detectives, and searches by uniformed police.

The police followed up a' number of possible leads and reported sightings today, but all were fruitless. Inspector N. H. Hardy, In charge of the investigation, said that during the day a chartered topdressing aircraft searched the Puketi forest area, near Kerikeri, but mist hampered the search, which was later called off. The police are working 12hour shifts and all leave has been cancelled until the bank robbers have been caught Road-blocks will be manned all night, and armed roving patrols will continue to check all likely back roads. The armed offenders squad

from Whangarei Is still on standby. Inspector Hardy said the plan was to contain the robbers within the Northland region by keeping all exits sealed while detectives continued investigations. All major road junctions and turn-offs to minor roads from Kaitaia to the Auckland Harbour Bridge and from Riverhead to Albany and Helensville are either blocked or patrolled. Late tonight the police were seeking a car which refuelled at a Dargaville service station about 6.30 p.m. The service station proprietor reported that the occupants were a European and a Maori, and that there was a rifle on the back seat.