Man charged with robbing bank twice

A man arrested following a bank robbery and police chase in Palmerston North yesterday has been charged in connection with a robbery at the same bank two weeks ago.

The 25-year-old man was arrested at a Hulme Street house by the armed offenders squad a short time after the ANZ Bank branch on Ruahine Street was robbed yesterday morning.

The alleged robber threatened tellers with a long-barrelled firearm and left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

He made off in a stolen Mitsubishi Lancer later found in suburban Roslyn, police central region spokeswoman Kim Perks said.

He was then seen by a police patrol running into a house and was arrested without incident by the armed offenders squad.

A search of the house, from which the occupiers had fled, turned up some cash, and a firearm was found at another house linked to the man.

The bank had previously been robbed on September 17.

The same three bank tellers were confronted with a long-barrelled firearm during both robberies.

Stolen Mitsubishi cars were used to leave the scene after both robberies.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said police received valuable information yesterday from the public that led to the swift arrest.

The alleged robber would appear in Palmerston North District Court later today facing two charges of aggravated robbery.

- NZPA