A man who attempted to rob a bank in Melbourne's southeast district on Tuesday sprayed water from an unmarked bottle on bank workers after he was arrested, according to Channel 9.
Victoria police confirmed that around 10:25, a man walked into a West Pacific bank in Wells Street, Frankston. The man may also be wearing a protective face mask for dangerous substances.
The police statement said: "A man sprayed an unknown substance on the staff, and then began to ask for cash." -. Soon after, he was arrested in nearby Young Street. The man is assisting the police in their investigation.
Senior police officer Peter Drake later told the media that the man walked into the bank, came to a man's security guard, then sprayed liquid on the security guard, handed him an empty bag and asked him to hand over the money.
The man then did the same to another female employee, who was at the bank. "the bank staff and other customers were evacuated and the man fled the scene."
Bank staff were frustrated by the incident, Drake said, and two passers-by followed the man to Young Street, to help police find him.
"they were upset about it. They didn't know what it was. They thought it was a chemical."
One of the men, Garry Thomas, said he had taken a picture to find the man.
"We found him at the jewelry store on the corner of Wells Street, and he sat there and we took a picture of him. He said,'I can't go anywhere else, you took pictures, 'and I said,' you can't go anywhere else, either.'
The fire rescue team rushed to the scene to inspect the liquid bottle, an unmarked white bottle, which was left in the bank's underground parking lot.
The bank staff, who had been sprayed, were treated at the scene, but were not seriously injured.
Anyone familiar with the investigation is urged to call the crime hotline at 1800 333,000.