Robber steals £10,000 in bank hold-up

POLICE have unleashed a manhunt in search of the perpetrator who heisted a Bank of Cyprus branch in Paphos, running away with about £10,000 in cash.

The robber, who according to eyewitnesses was wearing a hood, entered the bank at around 1pm and ordered the tellers to hand over the money. He was holding a duffel bag and a small metallic object, which employees took for a gun. The employees did as they were told, and the man exited the bank, jumped into a black car and fled the scene.

According to one eyewitness working outside at the time, at one point two scared female customers walked out of the bank, shouting that the bank was being robbed. While this conversation was still going on, the perpetrator stepped out of the building and bolted into his car. The eyewitness was able to establish the make of the car (a Honda Integra) but not the licence plates as these had been removed.

Deputy superintendent of Paphos Ioannis Ioannou said yesterday that police had several leads and were hopeful they would apprehend the criminal.

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