Six years on: The bank heist that remains unsolved

“Inquires have extended outside the Southland region as part of the overall investigation."

The ANZ Bank branch in Invercargill where an armoured transit van was robbed on November 21, 2018.

We’ve kick-started a weekly ‘Remember When’ series in The Southland Tribune. Today we remember when a brazen bank heist took place in Invercargill and six years on still remains unsolved.

November 21, 2018 - downtown Invercargill was transformed into some sort of scene from an action movie.

But this was no movie set, no cameras were in sight - apart from some grainy CCTV footage of course.

Three men - believed to be armed with firearms and a taser - took on a brazen and obviously well-planned heist.

At 9.13am on that Wednesday morning the trio pulled up behind an armored transit van outside the ANZ Bank in Kelvin St in Invercargill.

They were in a green Subaru Outback that had been stolen from a church carpark in Invercargill the night before.

After positioning themselves behind the armored van they got out and threatened one of the guards. Within 20 seconds they were back in the stolen Subaru Outback with two duffle bags of cash.

Rumours have swirled since as to how much money was in those duffle bags, although Police have never publicly confirmed an amount.

The Tribune asked again on the six-year anniversary of the heist, but the answer remains the same.

“Details of the amount of money stolen and associated inquiries remain confidential,” Detective Sergent Grant Johnstone said.

A screen shot from CCTV footage of three men who held up a cash transit van outside ANZ Bank, Invercargill, in November 2018.

After the 20-second cash grab, the trio set off in the stolen Subaru Outback and are believed to have headed the wrong way down the one-way Esk St towards Dee St.

It was an indicator that while there appeared to be a lot of planning involved every detail wasn’t ticked off.

The fact they headed the wrong way down a popular one-way street for many was also a pointer that the perpetrators were most likely out-of-towners.

They drove the stolen Subaru Outback to a car park on Leven St by the railway where they abandoned it. All up it is about 600m away from where the armed robbery took place.

It appears they’ve transferred to another vehicle at that car park and fled the city. Although the details are sketchy as to where they headed.

They disappeared and were never to be seen again. Six years on the case remains unsolved, and the money has never been recovered.

The Leven St car park in Invercargill where a car was abandoned following a robbery in November 2018.

Detective Sergent Grant Johnstone confirmed several people have been interviewed as victims, witnesses, and persons of interest since the robbery.

But he added, at this time, there was insufficient evidence to make any arrests or lay charges.

So, do Police believe it was an out-of-town job, and the trio fled the city that day?

“Inquires have extended outside the Southland region as part of the overall investigation. Release of specific information in this case would likely prejudice the maintenance of the law and the right to a fair trial,” Johnstone said.

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While no arrests have been made, or charges laid, six years on from the robbery, Johnstone said the investigation is still open and active.

“Police would be interested to hear from any party who has information from that time and has not yet come forward.

“We know allegiances and priorities change over time, so there may be someone out there with knowledge of this incident and those involved who are prepared to help.

“Anyone who wants to speak to us can do so through 105 service, either by phone or online, quoting reference number 181121/2550.

“You can also give information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”