A man who allegedly wanted to rob a bank in Yishun using a Beretta replica air pistol has been arrested, the police said on Friday night.

The authorities also arrested another suspect, although investigations against him are still ongoing.

According to a statement, the police were first alerted on Tuesday night of a suspicious bag hidden in a dry riser of a Yishun Central HDB block. In it, Ang Mo Kio division officers found the pistol, a set of clothing, shoes, gloves, cable ties and a face mask.

Two suspects, both aged 30, were identified the next day, following extensive ground enquiries conducted by the officers throughout the night.

They were tracked down and arrested simultaneously in two locations - Serangoon Gardens and Sembawang Close.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man who had hidden the bag was heavily in debt, and had informed the other suspect of his plan.

If found guilty of unlawful possession of an air pistol, he can get sent to jail for a term of between 5 and 10 years, and receive no less than six strokes of the cane.