Auckland North Shore robbery: Police hunt for suspect after Armourguard van robbery in Birkenhead

He said there was an increased police visibility in the Birkenhead area in response to the incident.

“Our investigation is still in the early stages. A scene examination is also being carried out, with additional enquiries to follow,” Harrison said.

A worker from a business in the same Birkenhead shopping strip said the offender was wearing black with an orange high-vis jacket, white mask and black goggles.

“He parked behind the Armourguard car… he pointed a gun at the security guard,” they said.

“He took a bag of money (and) drove away in a black [Suzuki] Swift.”

Northcote MP Dan Bidois took to social media this afternoon saying he was aware of an incident “involving an Armourguard van outside the old ASB building in Birkenhead”.

“Police are currently investigating and the area has been cordoned off.”

Labour List MP based in Northcote, Shanan Halbert, told the Herald it was “terrible” to hear about the robbery following a stabbing in the community last week.

“I’m hoping that security footage will help these cases. It has created fear in our community and people shouldn’t have to feel this way.”

Locals took to social media, confirming they witnessed an alleged offender robbing an Armourguard truck while it was resupplying the ATM.

The Herald has approached Armourguard and ASB for comment.

Police have asked anyone in the area at the time who saw anyone heading towards a vehicle carrying a case to contact them via the 105 phone service, using the reference number P061584274.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The incident comes a week after armed police swarmed the same North Shore road after a critically injured man “completely drenched in blood” was found with stab wounds.

It forced an early childhood centre into lockdown as police blocked off Birkenhead Ave, with emergency tape stretched across both sides of the road.

“We drove past when [it] just happened. Man completely drenched in blood on the ground, made me so upset to see. Really hope he’s okay but [it] doesn’t look good,” one witness recalled on social media.

A witness said the man looked in terrible condition.

“The policewoman was in a bit of a panic as the ambulance hadn’t arrived at that point.”

A nearby employee recalled seeing blood outside their store on the pavement.