Police arrested a suspect minutes after a bank robbery in Nanaimo last night.

According to an RCMP press release, a 46-year-old man was arrested near Comox Road and Prideaux Street on Thursday night after allegedly robbing the TD Canada Trust on Dufferin Crescent.

The bank was robbed at about 5:40 p.m.

B次元官网网址淣umerous officers responded to the incident which involved a lone male entering the bank, producing a note and then demanding money from a bank teller. After the money was handed over the suspect left in a taxi parked outside the bank,B次元官网网址� the press release noted. B次元官网网址淥fficers were provided a description of the suspect which was similar to a male who had robbed a north end Nanaimo CIBC bank on Monday.B次元官网网址�

RCMP say a taxi with two male passengers was stopped minutes after ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 bank robbery and one of the men matched a description provided.

B次元官网网址淎fter a brief struggle with officers, the suspect was arrested for the robbery and taken into custody,B次元官网网址� the press release noted.

Police say the suspect had in his possession bear spray, a knife and a replica handgun, along with B次元官网网址渁 quantity of cash.B次元官网网址�

On Monday, and RCMP said later in the week they believed they had identified a suspect and were dedicating resources to try to arrest him. Police investigators believe the same suspect is responsible for MondayB次元官网网址檚 and ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 robberies, but his name connot be released until he has been charged. Formal charges are expected within the next several days.

The other passenger who was in the taxi Thursday was taken into custody, but is not expected to face charges related to that nightB次元官网网址檚 robbery.