A robber barely cleared the door of an Abbotsford bank before being arrested by Abbotsford Police on Friday.

"The punchline of this incident is the officer arrested the suspect before bank staff called 911," said Const. Ian MacDonald.

A man entered the Royal Bank in the 31900 block of South Fraser Way at 4 p.m. and produced a note demanding cash and suggested he had a weapon.

An 18-year-old female accomplice was waiting in a taxi nearby, with an unsuspecting cab driver, said police.

When the suspect fled the bank, he began to shed his clothing as he was running toward the taxi.

An Abbotsford Police Department plainclothes officer happened to be nearby and saw the suspicious behaviour.

The officer then contacted other officers and intercepted the taxi, said MacDonald. Moments later, police had surrounded the suspect and his accomplice.

Cody Adam Couture, 22, from Abbotsford who was already wanted on a Canada- wide warrant and has a history of crime and violence, is charged with robbery.

His accomplice, who has no previous contacts with police, is also expected to face charges.