Police search on for four P.O. robbers

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 9

Police search on for four P.O. robbers

PA Wellington The police are still looking for four men involved in yesterday morning’s $5OOO robbery of the Epuni Post Office. Two men wearing balaclavas and carrying knives leapt over the post office counter and demanded money, a police spokesman said. They escaped with two others in a stolen station waggon which was found abandoned, soon after the 9.50 a.m. robbery, about Ikm from the post office. A helicopter and tracker dogs joined the search near where the stolen Holden was found, but police believe a second vehicle was waiting for the robbers, to continue their escape. The robbery was seen by a Television New Zealand work crew who were

driving past. A crew member, Mr Miles Buckingham, said he saw two men wearing balaclavas jogging along the street about six metres from the post office. "When they ran straight in we sat in the van for a second contemplating what to do and then decided to turn the van around.” The robbers dropped some money as they ran to the getaway car with "bags clutched to their chests.” He and his workmates tried to chase the car but their van’s path was blocked by a quarry truck. Police later said the truck did not appear to be part of the robbery. The post office staff were not injured.