A 68-year-old New Jersey man was arrested Saturday after allegedly attempting to rob three banks in downtown Boston within half an hour, police said.

Anthony Matarazzo is accused of handing an employee at East West Bank on Harrison Avenue a note demanding $200. The employee refused, and the suspect left without receiving any money, according to Boston police.

Officers responded to the first bank around 12:15 p.m.

About 20 minutes later, police responded to Cathay Bank on Washington Street, where Matarazzo allegedly handed an employee another note demanding $200 and claimed to have a gun. Police said he left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Officers were called to a third bank, a Bank of America branch on Washington Street, around 12:45 p.m. Police said Matarazzo handed an employee a note indicating he intended to rob the bank, but the employee refused.

Officers detained Matarazzo at the scene after he matched the description of the suspect in the earlier incidents. Police said he was identified and arrested.

During booking, officers recovered a note from Matarazzo's chest pocket and an undisclosed amount of cash. No firearm was found.

Matarazzo was expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on an armed robbery charge.