KEY POINTS:
A middle- aged man desperate for a beer has been charged with robbing Kawerau's ANZ bank.
Detective Mike Mackenzie, of the Kawerau police, said the 59-year-old had gone to the bank about 2.30pm yesterday.
He allegedly showed a bullet to the bank teller, indicating he had something else in his pocket, Mr Mackenzie said.
The teller handed over a sum of money and the man left.
He was caught by police five minutes later in a local bar after he told a barmaid to call police.
The man later told police he really needed a beer. The man has been charged with robbery and is due to appear in the Whakatane District Court today. Mr Mackenzie said police allowed the man to finish his beer before he was locked up in police cells overnight.
It was one of those "only in Kawerau" incidents, he said.
- DAILY POST
