On Friday 8th September, an armed robber entered SkyCity Auckland, demanding cash. Police were called but arrived after the man had fled with the money. An investigation is going ahead. Police say they already know the identity of the thief. The robber implied they carried a weapon but did not show it.
How much cash was stolen from StarCity Auckland has not been disclosed. Though the culprit remains a mystery to the public, police say the suspect is known to them.
©Nikita Pavlov/Unsplash
Police were phoned at approximately 12:30 pm, on Friday the 8th, to attend to a robbery. A man had entered the venue and, implying he carried a gun, forced a staff member to hand over some of the casino’s money.
A spokesperson for the police said, “An amount of cash was taken before the man fled on foot… Police are following positive lines of enquiry in the matter.” The thief faces imprisonment for up to ten years if caught.
Neither the casino nor the police have disclosed how much money was taken. A spokesperson for the casino confirmed the incident had occurred. The casino has stated that the staff member who was approached by the robber is receiving appropriate support. They requested that the police be referred to for all further enquiries.
Local Talk
The Member of Parliament for Auckland Central, Chlöe Swarbrick, made a rare comment on Facebook about the matter. She wrote, “I am told this incident reflects no threat to the public. The suspect is known to authorities and, while jarring for staff (whose welfare I can confirm is being looked after), I understand no weapon – threatened or otherwise – actually materialised”. Apart from a spate of jewellery store robberies in 2022, daylight robberies are rare in Auckland Central.
The incident occurred just four days after the Secretary for Internal Affairs, Paul James, submitted a letter to the Gambling Commission to have SkyCity Auckland Casino closed down for up to ten days. The staff of SkyCity had officially been found lax in checking for problem gambling behaviours. The casino is still open for business, despite recent happenings.
How to Report Information
Anyone with information on the robbery is being urged to contact the police or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Crime Stoppers is a charity organisation who do not record personal details about anyone who shares information with them. Calls to Crime Stoppers are free and do not show up listed on any phone bills.
