Police arrested a man at around 7:00pm this evening after a New Taipei City bank was robbed shortly after 3:00pm this afternoon.

At around 3:20pm, as shortly before closing time, a man wearing a surgical mask and a motorcycle helmet walked into a branch of the E. Sun Bank on Yuan-dong Road in Banqiao District, pointed a pistol at staff, and without saying word, went behind the counter to search for cash.

The suspect then fled with NT$500,000 cash. The whole robbery process took less than one minute, reported Apple Daily.

After the robbery was reported, police detectives went to the scene of the crime to begin investigations, and at around 7:00pm a suspect was arrested outside a convenience store in Zhonghe District.

The 41-year-old man, named Ye, was found to be in possession of a toy pistol, a fruit knife, and NT$170,000 in cash.

Ye told police that he had already used the rest of the money to pay off a gambling debt.

Ye is married with two sons and repairs mobile phones for a living.

Sources: Apple Daily, CNA.

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