NANJING - Police are hunting a male suspect who shot and robbed a man in front of a bank in an east China city on Friday, a rare daylight robbery that has chilled the public mood ahead of the Chinese New Year.

Police officers investigate the scene of crime after a suspect allegedly shot and killed a man during a robbery in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, Jan 6, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Public Security Bureau of the city of Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, has offered a reward of 100,000 yuan ($15,850) for information leading to the arrest of the man, who is also suspected of being involved in six cases of homicide and robbery that took place in two cities over the last seven years.

The suspect, a man believed to be in his 40s, shot a man who had just finished withdrawing 200,000 yuan in front of a bank on Nanjing's Dongmen street at 9:50 am The robber then took the money and hopped in a car that sped away from the scene of the crime, said Pei Jun, the bureau's deputy chief.

Pei said the suspect is believed to have used a gun to kill six people and injure another two in six robberies that took place in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, and Chongqing municipality between now and 2004.

Firearm possession is illegal in China.

More theft and robbery cases are usually reported before the Chinese New Year, as people are making more bank transactions and migrants to cities are bringing extra money back home for family reunions.

Special armed police units were mobilized after the robbery and police at one point dispatched helicopters to search for the robber.