SPALDINGS, CLARENDON:

A woman was robbed of $400,000 yesterday, just a few metres from a bank she was about to enter to lodge the money in Spaldings, Manchester, police reported.

A man, believed to be an accomplice to the robber, has since been arrested and will face an identification parade, police said.

Reports are that about 10 a.m., an employee of Mid-Island Pharmacy and Gift Centre in Spaldings, was on her way to the bank to make a lodgement. On reaching about 20 metres from the entrance of the bank, a bag she was carrying with the money, was held onto by a man but she refused to let go.

A witness said after some resistance the man lifted his shirt and exposed what resembled a gun. On seeing the weapon, the woman let go of the bag and the robber ran to a waiting motor car, which sped away.

The car, which reportedly had only the driver waiting, then sped away in the direction of Walderston, but was chased by taxi operators who saw what had taken place.

Creton Bourne, proprietor of Mid-Island Pharmacy and Gift Centre, told THE STAR that a taxi driver chased the getaway car to Walderston, but the cabbie had a minor accident, giving the robbers a fairly good distance. One of the men, apparently fled the vehicle during this time.

Bourne said, on realising that the other man was about to get away, the cabbie alerted the Porus police, giving a description of the motor car and its registration plates. The police immediately organised a roadblock, and the car was intercepted and the driver taken into custody.

The cash was not in the driver's possession, but police say he will face an identification parade shortly. The police are also searching the Walderston area for the other robber.