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Finlay Dunseath/Stuff
Armed police on Lambton Quay in central Wellington.
A man pulled out a handgun in a central Wellington money exchange outlet on Wednesday before making off with an unknown amount of foreign currency, police say.
The scene – at the Western Union branch on Lambton Quay – was taped off and armed police had stood guard after the incident which happened shortly after 9am. They had left by 1pm.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said a man “presented a handgun at staff and demanded cash” at the Travelex Currency Exchange.
”He made off after obtaining an undisclosed amount of foreign currency.
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“The staff members were not injured, however, [they] have been shaken by the incident and are being supported. There were no customers in the store at the time.”
Police investigations – including looking for the man – continued. He is described as possibly Māori. He was wearing dark clothing, a black baseball cap, a mask and backpack.
Tape from outside the shop had been removed, but a sign on the door read “due to unavoidable circumstances our branch will be closed until further notice”.
Employees at a neighbouring cafe said police had requested to view CCTV footage.
Another worker at a nearby shop, who asked not to be named, said town was usually quiet at that end of Lambton Quay in the morning, and she didn’t notice anything while opening up.
She later saw police cars arriving and saw people leaving the currency exchange in tears and appearing very shaken.
“They looked pretty traumatised,” she said.
She hadn’t heard any more about what might have happened but thought it must have been serious given the response.
Wellington’s Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Arcus said his thoughts went to the staff traumatised by the crime.
”No-one should have to deal with this as part of their work day,” he said.
He said businesses in all main centres were experiencing escalating crime rates.
”While ramraids have grabbed the headlines we know there is rising theft, violence and lawlessness and this is on the minds of our businesses more than ever in recent times,” Arcus said.
”Bringing this kind of crime to the heart of the golden mile highlights this wider trend in main centres including Wellington that deeply concerns us.”
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