Bank robber bumbles heist in Taiwan  

臺灣一蒙面人開槍搶銀行 抽屜拉不開空手逃跑

Police found a bullet hole in the ceiling, but no shells.[Photo: United Daily News]

(ECNS) -- A masked robber fled a bank in Taiwan empty-handed on Tuesday afternoon after bumbling a robbery attempt, the Taiwan-based United Daily News reported.

Around 3pm, the robber, wearing a mask and dark glasses, drove a taxi to a branch of the Chang Hwa Bank in New Taipei City's Sanchong district. Once inside, he fired his weapon toward the ceiling. No customers were in the bank.

Bank employees hid behind counters after pushing the alarm button, while the guards dared not move. The robber then crossed the counter and tried to open the cash drawer, but failed to do so.

Police later found a bullet hole in the ceiling, but no shells. They inferred that the robber's home-made gun had jammed when he fired, so he tried to open the cash drawer by hand.

The taxi was found abandoned on Renai Street an hour later.