Police praise public after Christchurch bank robbery

Police are praising alert members of the public who took the details of a getaway car used by a bank robber in Christchurch today.

Inspector Gary Knowles said three people were in custody helping police with inquiries as a result of details the onlookers took at the scene.

The robber jumped the counter of the Kiwibank branch in Ferry Road in Christchurch shortly after 1.20pm and took an undisclosed amount of money.

It not yet known if the robber was armed or if there is a connection to a robbery at the St Martin's Westpac branch on Tuesday.

Staff at the Kiwibank branch were traumatised but Mr Knowles said they acted calmly during the robbery, which was exactly what they should have done in the situation.

Members of the public followed the offender to a yellow car and got details that helped police find the three people.

Police are still hunting for the knife-wielding robber of the Westpac branch.

The robber got into a silver Telstar which was found by police a short time later in Cashmere.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey said tonight a 37-year-old unemployed man had been charged over the robbery.

He will appear in Christchurch District Court tomorrow.

- NZPA