Frantic cash search

Press, 20 October 1987, Page 1

Frantic cash search

PA Auckland Two men, one brandishing a long knife, raided an Auckland post office yesterday. However, the Lynfield Post Office was so short of money that staff tried to arrange a “loan” with a nearby supermarket to tide them over until a cash delivery. The two robbers, who burst into the building in Hillsborough Road at 10.25 a.m. are believed to have taken about $5OO. They rifled three tellers’ trays in their frantic search for money. Four women employees were forced to lie on the floor. One was grabbed round the neck and had a 30cm knife thrust against her. The women were shaken but not injured in the hold-up, which lasted a little more than a minute. Detective Sergeant Leon Vidler, of the Avondale C.1.1L, said, “Fortunately, the post office was running low on money at the time. Even if they had taken every cent in the place, they would have been lucky to get $1000.” One of the robbers spilt most of his already slim pickings on the floor. Trying to stuff banknotes into a shoulder bag as he fled, the man fumbled and dropped a bundle. “That was about the longest part of the whole operation,” said Detective Sergeant Vidler. “This guy was crawling round backwards and forwards picking up the money. There was more money going on the floor than in his bag at one stage.” The robber eventually made off, leaving his accomplice to scoop up a few remaining.notes on his way out. Both men’s actions were caught on a security -video camera. They were last seen running into a neighbouring street, both wearing crash helmets and dark-coloured overalls. It is not known whether they had a getaway vehicle parked nearby.