A man has been charged after allegedly threatening bank employees in Ballina yesterday.

Police were told about 11am (Thursday, 5 December 2024), a man entered a financial institution on River Street, Ballina, and allegedly threatened staff before showing an employee what appeared to be a firearm.

Police allege that about 11am Thursday, 5 December 2024 the male entered a Ballina Bank Branch whilst having a toy gun tucked into the front of his waistband. The male is alleged to have accused staff of giving all of his money away before turning to exit the building.

Police will allege that as he exited, he has turned back towards staff and threatened to shoot the legs of one of the employees. As he made the threat, he has raised his shirt revealing what the employees believed to be a firearm, secreted in his waistband.

The male has then walked across the street and entered another financial institution making assertions that he had money with them. However, it is alleged that he did not, and staff were aware that he was not a customer. During this interaction, the male again lifted his shirt revealing a black and blue coloured object resembling a firearm tucked into his waistband.

The male then left the location and was a short time later located by Police. When searched by Police, it is alleged that located on the male was a black/blue coloured fake toy firearm concealed in his waistband.

The male was subsequently charged by Police with 2 sequences of 'Stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm'.

He was refused bail and appeared before Ballina Local Court yesterday (Thursday, 5 December 2024) and is now bail refused, to appear before the same court on Thursday, 23 January 2025.