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Offender Databases Roger Baller

Roger Kenneth Baller

Alias

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Offences

Robbery of a Caltex Service Station in Thames, the Waihou Tavern near Te Aroha, and a Rotorua pharmacy in 2003
Kidnapped the victim of the pharmacy robbery, and used a gun and a knife in the taven and service station robberies
Previous history of violent offending

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1974

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Paroled June 2008
Breached his prison release conditions, now back inside
Sentenced to eight years in March 2009

Background
NZ Herald story here
From the Waikato Times
A dangerous man, suspected of carrying out aggravated robberies, is repeatedly swapping cars to avoid police capture, Hamilton police revealed this morning. Police were today following the trail of former prisoner Roger Kenneth Baller who they believe is responsible for a spate of aggravated robberies around the Waikato in recent weeks.

Detective Sergeant Neville Ross said Baller was using several of his associates' cars to get around. "He is changing cars regularly." They had no clues as to where Baller might be hiding out but were this morning searching for him. Baller, 34, has been described as extremely dangerous and previously threatened to use HIV infected blood syringes against one of his victims.

He was released from prison in late June after serving a sentence for robbery and kidnap offences. His probation officer has not seen him since late August. Baller was one of two men who went on a spate of aggravated robberies in the Hauraki Plains and Rotorua in 2003. Baller and his accomplice, David Linton Uren, robbed a Caltex Service Station in Thames, the Waihou Tavern near Te Aroha, and a Rotorua pharmacy.

During the pharmacy robbery, Baller told his victim that accomplices armed with syringes filled with HIV-infected blood were watching his house. They received $10,000 when they robbed the Waihou Tavern armed with a gun and knife and got hundreds of dollars from the service station robbery. Mr Ross said a warrant was issued for Baller's arrest on September 3 after he breached his release conditions.

Police now believe he was involved in a recent spate of Waikato aggravated robberies. "Baller is also wanted in connection with a number of burglaries in the city," Mr Ross said. Mr Ross would not elaborate on what robberies they believed Baller was involved in or why they thought he was involved. "That is something we want to talk to him (Baller) about." Mr Ross said Baller was not a nice guy and had a history of violent offending, so should not be approached. "Given the seriousness of the offending under investigation we are appealing to anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact their nearest police station."

The Waikato Times reported last week on a spate of aggravated robberies. In Hamilton two service stations, two dairies, a bank and an alcohol store were robbed. Two Cambridge dairies and a Thames pharmacy were also robbed. In the nine investigations there have been three arrests. Two Mangakino 17-year-olds faced charges after a robbery in Cambridge on Saturday. And a Hamilton man appeared in the Hamilton District Court in relation to the recent hold-up of the Westpac bank in Hillcrest. It was alleged at the time that the 40-year-old man indicated he had a gun, and demanded cash from a female bank teller.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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