A man suspected of armed robbery at Hang Seng Bank in Shatin and getting away with cash equivalent to HK$380,000 ($48,425) on Monday was arrested in Shenzhen a day later and subsequently handed over to Hong Kong police.

According to police, the male suspect entered the bank at a shopping mall in Shatin at about 5 pm on Monday with a 30-cm long knife and held a female bank employee hostage, stealing cash worth of about HK$380,000. The employee suffered a minor neck injury and was discharged from the hospital the same day after treatment.

At a news briefing on Tuesday night, Iu Wing-kan, superintendent of the New Territories South crime headquarters, said the 49-year-old local suspect, who was said to be unemployed, fled to Shenzhen through the Heung Yuen Wai Control Point after the robbery.

“The suspect lived near the bank. He returned home immediately after the robbery, changed his clothes and drove his private car to leave his home,” said Iu.

Police had immediately sought assistance from law enforcement agencies on the Chinese mainland to catch the suspect. They were informed on Tuesday that the suspect had been arrested in Shenzhen, the superintendent told reporters.

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He was handed over to the Hong Kong police through the Shenzhen Bay port at 9:30 pm on Tuesday and arrested for robbery, Iu said.

When fleeing Hong Kong, the suspect was accompanied by a 34-year-old local woman, believed to be his girlfriend. The woman – who claimed to be a clerk – was arrested on suspicion of assisting a crime when returning to Hong Kong Tuesday afternoon. Both suspects were under police custody overnight.

The arrested man was also arrested for attempted burglary, as he was suspected of being involved in an attempted burglary at a detached house on Clearwater Bay Road at around 2 pm on Monday, according to the officer.

He climbed into the house and attempted to burgle, but was discovered by a domestic helper and fled. There was no loss and no-one was injured in the case, he added.

“The suspect held a bank employee at knifepoint in broad daylight amid a busy crowd. This behavior is a definite challenge to the rule of law in Hong Kong. Members of the public should condemn it,” Iu said at the briefing.

Highlighting the police’s capability and determination to tackle serious crimes, the superintendent reiterated it was “innocent, ridiculous and impractical” for suspects to commit a crime and intend to get away scot-free.

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“No matter where suspects go, Hong Kong police will spare no pains to arrest them,” he said.