Robbery suspect returned to N.Z.

Press, 2 August 1989, Page 1

Robbery suspect returned to N.Z.

BARRY CLARKE

Money found in a rubbish tin at Christchurch Airport may be linked to the $45,000 armed robbery of the Halswell Trust Bank. Seventy-one $2 notes and a watch valued at $9OO were found discarded at the international departure lounge on Sunday by a cleaner.

Detectives have spoken to a man, fitting the description of the robber, who left for Sydney on an Air New Zealand flight at 10 a.m. on Sunday. He was refused entry into Australia because of his background and returned to Christchurch.

It is believed the man had exchanged another 70 $2 notes into Australian currency before leaving Christchurch Airport. He is also believed to have been in possession of $6OO in $lO notes. “We have spoken to him . and he has not been eliminated,” Detective Senior-Sergeant Brian Pearce confirmed yesterday. “He falls within the general description of the offender given to us by witnesses. This is just a particular area of various inquiries we are making.”

The watch found with the money is a woman’s Omega Seamaster. It has not been worn and the battery is flat indicating

it may have been stolen up to two years ago. The man who held up the bank last Thursday was described as a European, aged in his late teens or early to mid 20s.

He has also been linked to the armed holdup of the Upper Riccarton branch of the Bank of New Zealand in December, 1987. The stolen 185 cc motor-cycle used in the Halswell robbery was also the getaway machine in the Upper Riccarton holdup. Inquiries continued without success yesterday into where a distinctive jacket and backpack, and,.a full face crash helmet word by the robber, were bought.