The man, caught on witness video reversing into a BNZ branch on Camp St, in the CBD, about 11.45pm, drove a white hatchback into the branch’s glass front where an ATM is located.
He was seen exiting the vehicle in a seemingly relaxed manner to inspect the damage, before returning to the driver’s seat to give it another go.
People from the neighbouring McDonald’s restaurant and other establishments witnessed the incident.
The witness video shows some of them confronting the man, who hopped back into the vehicle before driving off, with nothing stolen.
A police officer arrived at the scene just as the man left.
A police spokesman said officers soon located the vehicle and followed it at a distance along State Highway 6.
The vehicle was successfully spiked south of Kingston and stopped soon after.
The driver was taken into custody without incident and was facing charges in relation to the incident. Police said their inquiries were ongoing.
The incident is thought to be Queenstown’s first attempted ram-raid.
The BNZ branch was empty and cordoned off with police tape on Saturday morning, with glass shattered and the ATM knocked about but relatively intact.
There was no other damage to neighbouring businesses.
