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A “tenacious investigation” over the past five months has led to two arrests following a cash-in-transit robbery, police say.
Auckland City Police say its organised crime unit has been investigating after $210,000 was allegedly stolen when a firearm was presented at security guards in Sylvia Park on April 9.
“Police located a vehicle, allegedly used to flee from the shopping centre, on fire in the nearby Mt Wellington area at the time,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Matthew Bunce.
“Fortunately, no one suffered any injuries as a result of the offending.”
Offenders had fled the area, police say.
Five months on, they were awoken in darkness earlier today, September 11, at properties in rural Franklin. The Operation Blur team had arrived, Bunce says.
“This morning the investigation team executed three search warrants, with assistance from the Armed Offenders Squad.
“Police have interviewed the pair and laid serious charges against them for the Sylvia Park robbery.”
A 50-year-old Tuakau man and a 28-year-old Paerata man are now due to appear in the Auckland District Court.
Police say they’ve been charged with: Aggravated robbery with a firearm; conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery with a firearm; arson; burglary; unlawfully taking a motor vehicle; theft of a motor vehicle; aggravated assault; seven counts of theft ex-car (under $500); one count of theft ex-car (over $1000).
Bunce says Operation Blur’s enquiries continue.
“We cannot rule out further charges being laid at this point. This has been a challenging investigation to date, and I’d like to acknowledge this team of investigators whose work has led to this significant development today.”
