OSAKA -- A lone robber made off with some 17 million yen Monday from Bank of Kansai's Kudara branch after posing as a fire extinguisher inspector and grabbing a female teller, police said.
No one was injured in the robbery, which occurred at around 12:20 p.m. at the branch in Osaka's Higashi-Sumiyoshi Ward, they added.
Investigators said the man entered the branch carrying a fire extinguisher and said he was there to inspect the fire extinguishers on the premises.
The teller had just been assigned to deal with him when the man grabbed her by the front of her blouse and demanded that she hand over money.
He grabbed some 17 million yen from inside the counter, put it in a black plastic bag that he was carrying and fled on a bicycle that was in front of the bank, police said. He left behind the fire extinguisher.
The robber was described around 25 to 30 years of age, and had covered his face with a white towel and dark sunglasses. He was wearing white work clothes and a white helmet with a green cross on it, police said.