A St. George's man is in Police custody this morning after he was arrested on suspicion of robbing a popular St. George's watering hole on Saturday night.

The 32-year-old is alleged to have entered Freddies Pub on the Square around 9.15 p.m. wielding a machete. It is understood the man was caught on videotape.

Once he got to the bar area, he grabbed a bank bag with a "significant'' amount of cash''.

A staffer and a customer chased after the thief, but he escaped.

Around 11.30 p.m. the man was arrested at the St. George's Police station.

Freddies' owner Allan Powell yesterday thanked the customer and his staff member for their actions in safely pursuing the man.

"I tell all my staff to stand back in situations like that -- if they have a gun or machete,'' Mr. Powell explained. "But they should know where he is going and don't put their life in danger. I thank that customer for what they did too.

"It was over in just seconds. In and out in ten seconds a real snatch and grab,'' he added. "What you have in the Police report is just what happened.

Yes, I'm satisfied with the Police response. They got here before I did and I live a short distance away.

"Police were exceptional. You have to realise that we don't have a problem in Freddies, we have a social problem in St. George's and Bermuda in general.''