The man who held up a busy Civic bank in broad daylight used a bicycle to make his getaway, dropping a bundle of cash as he fled.
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Police were hunting for an armed man who held up a bank and then fled on a bike in the city in broad daylight this afternoon.
The man entered the Westpac bank on Alinga Street about 3pm, with a clothing wrapped around his face.
He walked to the teller carrying what police believe is a firearm, and demanded she hand over cash.
The teller gave over an unknown sum of cash, before he made his getaway on a bicycle.
He dropped some of the cash as he fled on a footpath on the corner of Rudd and Moore Streets. The cash was handed in to police.
Neighbouring shop owners were unaware of the bank robbery today.
A number of onlookers watched police rush to the scene with their hands on their gun holsters.
Detective Sergeant Craig Marriott said the alleged offender does not pose a significant risk to others.
‘‘The threats were somewhat limited to the teller, and there has certainly been no indication from witnesses that the behaviour of the offender after he’s left the bank should cause the public any more concern,’’ he said.
Bank staff were coping with the incident well, Detective Sergeant Marriott said, but were experiencing ‘‘a degree of trauma’’.
Police were reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, and forensics were still assessing the scene as at roughly 4.15pm.
Detective Sergeant Marriott said modern day bank robberies were rare.
‘‘Bank robberies certainly aren’t as common as they used to be,’’ he said.
‘‘The security procedures of banks nowadays are quite advanced and the sums of cash that banks carry are quite limited.’’
The alleged offender was Caucasian, roughly 183cm tall, aged between 40 and 50, medium build, wearing black tracksuit pants, and a dark jacket.
Police have asked anyone who may have seen a man fitting this description in the area to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.