Police have revealed the accomplice involved in the alleged aggravated bank robbery with Tom Phillips was female.
It comes after police issued a warrant for the arrest of Phillips following the robbery in Te Kuiti in May.
Police appealed for information in May after two people entered a bank on Rora Street and allegedly demanded cash.
Both were allegedly armed and fled the scene on a black, farm-style motorbike, Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said.
Saunders provided an update on Wednesday revealing the second person on the motorbike and in the bank robbery was a female.
But police still don't have an identity for that female.
"We are yet to identify the other person involved, but believe they are female," Saunders said.
Saunders wouldn't provide any more details about the bank robbery but confirmed there were gunshots, but no one was injured.
Saunders confirmed Phillips did have a firearms license but that had since been revoked.
Phillips has been on the run with his three young children Jayda, 10, Maverick, 8, and Ember, 7, for about 20 months.
He said people shouldn't "take action" if they see Phillips as he "still potentially has firearms in his possession" and Saunders considers him dangerous.
"If he is committing these offences as alleged then I do consider him dangerous," Saunders said.
The main focus of the investigation is on the safety of the missing children and their wellbeing, Saunders said, adding they're worried about the three kids.
"We've always had a high level of concern for their welfare. How have they been educated, what is their health like, how have they been fed, what are they eating," Saunders said.
He believes people in the community are helping Phillips and supporting him, but Saunders urged those people to rethink and consider the children.
"People in the community who may think he's just a good dad doing something for his children, we would encourage them to think about this new information... is this the best for the children? He said.
In August, police released new details on recent sightings of Phillips. He had been seen at two Bunnings stores in Waikato.
Police said he used a large amount of cash and the items bought suggest he may have set up a campsite. These items include headlamps, batteries, seedlings, buckets, and gumboots.
The public is urged to report any sightings of Phillips to police on 111, quoting file number 230516/7295. Alternatively, you can contact police via the dedicated email address op.curly@police.govt.nz.
The public is urged not to take action themselves since Phillips potentially still has firearms in his possession.
Det Insp Saunders said police are still concerned about the welfare of his children, who were officially reported as missing in December 2021.
