One Arrest After Images Released
With a 75 per cent spike in bank robberies for the first three months of the year, compared with a similar period in 2013, police are seeking the public help’s apprehending four bandits responsible for 10 of 12 unresolved robberies this year.
“I would say we are having some serial bank robberies,” said S/Insp. Mike Earl at a press conference at police headquarters on April 15.
“If we can get the great photos out to the public immediately, we can stop these robberies.”
One of the bandits, nicknamed The Mummy Bandit, tops the list having robbed seven banks since October 2013. Wearing a disguise, he has produced either a knife or handgun.
He’s described as 20-30, 5’6” to 5’10”, walking with a certain gait.
“We have great concern about this individual because he has an edged weapon and he has used what we believe to be a handgun on every occasion,” Earl said.
His last robbery was committed on March 27 at Carlton & Yonge Sts.
Hold Up is also looking for the Pleather, Man in Black and Box Cutter Bandits.
Given the nickname because police believe the jacket he’s wearing is an imitation, the Pleather Bandit is described as brown or black, 40 to 50, with an accent.
He robbed the Bank of Montreal at King St W. & Dufferin St. at around 4 p.m. on March 11.
Gustav Khan, 51, of Toronto has been charged with robbery in connection to the crime.
Earl said he made a verbal demand and handed a note to the teller, indicating he had a handgun.
Wearing dark sunglasses and dressed in black, the Man in Black Bandit robbed a bank at 110 Spadina Ave. on January 15. He approached the teller with a note indicating he was armed with a handgun.
The Box Cutter bandit is a male white, between the ages of 35 and 40 with a height ranging from 5’9” to 6’. He was wearing a dark winter coat and scarf around his face with a toque when he robbed three banks in March on a Wednesday.
“In each case, he approached the teller and produced a knife that tellers describe as a box cutter,” Earl added.
Bill Crate, the Canadian Bankers Association director of security and intelligence, attended the press conference and announced his organization will top up by 50 per cent the Crime Stoppers payouts for information leading to the bandits’ arrest.
“The desperation and unpredictably of this crime is what makes it so dangerous to our employees and customers,” he said.
“My message to bank robbers and potential bank robbers is that, if you rob a bank, you will be caught and made accountable.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hold Up Squad at 416−808−7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at 222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.
