Police have arrested a 20-year-old man accused of stealing a truck and robbing a bank in Oak Bay before fleeing from police in a Wendy’s parking lot.

It started when Saanich Police were contacted Tuesday morning by the owner of a 2013 Dodge Ram who reported the truck as stolen.

Then just before 6 p.m., a man entered a TD Canada Trust branch on Oak Bay Avenue and passed the teller a note, then made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to police.

He was seen leaving the bank in a black Dodge Ram pickup with a dark-coloured canopy, heading toward downtown Victoria on Oak Bay Avenue.

Later that night, Victoria Police officers saw the truck in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant on Bay Street and confirmed the vehicle’s license plate as stolen.

The officers tried to stop the truck and arrest the driver, but he backed it into a civilian vehicle, jumped a curb and fled from police.

The driver was identified and police have recommended charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, flight from police, dangerous driving and driving while prohibited.

On Wednesday, members of West Shore RCMP, Victoria Police and Saanich Police spotted the stolen truck being driven by the same driver as he travelled through Esquimalt, Saanich and Victoria.

Officers found it parked on the side of the road near the intersection of Doncaster Drive at Westall Avenue about an hour later, and a K9 officer tracked down and arrested the man in the 1500-block of Hillside Avenue.

Police have said the suspect is a 20-year-old man from the Greater Victoria area who is known to them.

He’s being held in custody pending a court appearance.

Saanich Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Eassie said investigators believe there is a direct connection between the bank robbery, the stolen vehicle and the lone suspect, and that robbery charges could be expected as a result.