Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Witness to holdup says experience terrifying

Updated at 5:36 am on 9 February 2012

A witness to an armed robbery in central Auckland says the experience was terrifying.

A security guard was restocking an ATM machine on High Street at about midday on Tuesday when a gun was pointed at him.

The robber left the scene in a stolen maroon Subaru station-wagon, with a large sum of money.

The witness, who does not want to be named, said she saw a vehicle speed down the wrong side of the road.

She says the car pulled up on a curb outside the Flight Centre on Victoria Street and a man jumped out and pointed what appeared to be a rifle at the security guard.

The witness says the robber dragged the security guard's suitcase to the car and drove off in front off dozens of onlookers.

She says she tried three times to phone 111 to alert emergency services, but the line was engaged.

The guard was unharmed.

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