A college student in southern Shan state was arrested yesterday for allegedly robbing a bank, where he stole close to US$ 20 and tried to fight a security guard.

According to local police, the 19-year-old student from Ayetharyar Government Technology College in Taunggyi, whose name has been withheld, was arrested on 5 February after he allegedly broke into a Yoma Bank branch in Aungban, Shan state. He later entered into an altercation with the bank’s security guard after failing to find a substantial amount of cash, which resulted in his arrest.

“He climbed the wall and got in the kitchen where he picked up a knife and then proceeded to the interior. A security guard at the time was at his post, wrapped in a blanket watching television,” said an official from Aungban’s police station.

“He went from room to room, searching for money in drawers but only found 17,000 kyat (US$ 19.87). He got upset after that and went to threaten the security guard with the knife and demanded the key to the safe. We detained him as he was trying to flee when the guard fought back.”

The officer said the suspect has been charged with robbery.