Thief used expensive gear

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 8

Thief used expensive gear

By

BARRY CLARKE

Detectives canvassed outdoor sports stores yesterday to gain a lead on the Halswell Trust Bank robber, who is believed to have expensive tastes. The man was disguised in an expensive jacket, and carried an even dearer backpack, which might have been bought in Christchurch recently. The teal and peacock blue Fairydown jacket sells for $233, and the Outside Galaxy backpack for $345. Checks are being made also to see if the clothing was stolen. The backpack and a stolen 185 cc motor-cycle the robber used to get away from the $45,000 hold-up oh Thursday morning were recovered yesterday. The motor-cycle was found hidden in the wreck of a car on a private rubbish tip in McTeigue Road, and the backpack on the banks of the Waimakariri River. Both are being analysed. Ten detectives are working on the inquiry. They are particularly interested in a blue van with a black roof rack seen in Wigram Road soon after the 9.35 a.m. robbery. “We want the driver to come forward so we can eliminate him from the inquiry,” said Detective Senior-Sergeant Brian Pearce. The offender, who escaped with the money in a white padlocked bag with the number 397 on it, might have had an accomplice. The bag contained used $5O, $2O, and $lO notes. Detective Senior-Ser-geant Pearce also wants a man, who saw the robber leaving the bank, to come forward. He was standing outside the bank.