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Ontario Police Make Arrests in Multi-Million Dollar Bank Robbery Investigation
Authorities in Ontario have apprehended four individuals and are on the hunt for a fifth following a series of bank robberies that spanned over 16 months across the province.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced these developments as part of Project Opal, a coordinated effort among multiple law enforcement agencies aimed at addressing the robberies that took place between December 8, 2022, and March 16, 2024.
The robberies occurred in various locations, including smaller towns such as Arkona, Feversham, and Arnprior, as well as larger urban centers like Belleville, Newmarket, Pickering, and Niagara Falls.
The total losses from these robberies have surpassed $2 million, and law enforcement is still in pursuit of the stolen funds.
Detective Inspector Brian McDermott of the OPP detailed the modus operandi of the criminals, noting, “The similarities among these robberies were clear. Each involved two to three individuals entering a bank before closing time.”
He further explained that the suspects employed firearms to control the bank patrons through threats and intimidation, utilizing disguises to shield their identities and gloves to evade leaving fingerprints.
“In several instances, individuals present in the banks were tied up and left frightened,” McDermott added.
Interconnected Crimes
The OPP highlighted how the patterns across the different incidents prompted various police departments to collaborate and share information, soon realizing they were dealing with a series of coordinated robberies.
“Each police service began thoroughly investigating the circumstances of their respective incidents,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns. “They quickly determined that these occurrences were not isolated events; rather, these interconnected robberies pointed to a larger, more organized operation.”
Law enforcement noted that three suspects were apprehended on June 21 in Field, Ontario, as they allegedly prepared to execute a ninth robbery in the small community located approximately one hour east of Sudbury.
McDermott confirmed that officers ensured the safety of bank customers before the arrests took place.
A fourth suspect was arrested in Vaughan on September 25, while the fifth suspect, Akeem Williams, 32, from Ajax, remains at large. Authorities are urging the public not to approach him if spotted.
The four arrested individuals, aged 24 to 32, come from Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, and Cobourg. Collectively, they face a total of 53 charges, which include robbery with violence, forcible confinement, and the use of a firearm in the commission of these offenses.
As police continue to pursue the investigation, they remain committed to ensuring the safety of the public and recovering the stolen assets.
Source
globalnews.ca