Monday, April 22, 2013

$100K reward for violent robbers

Toronto Police Service
News Release

Police request assistance with armed robbery/shooting investigation, Security video and photographs of two men released

Monday, April 22, 2013 - 1:25 PM
Hold Up Squad:  416-808-7350

On Sunday, April 21, 2013, at 12:21 p.m., police responded to a call for an armed robbery at the TD Canada Trust bank at 2555 St. Clair Avenue West.

It is reported that:
- two men, one armed with a handgun, entered the bank
- the men ordered customers in the bank to get down on the ground and jumped up onto the counter, making demands to the bank employees for money
- a customer confronted one of the men and got into a physical altercation
- the second man fired at the victim, missing both men and struck a bank teller in the left thigh 
- the two men fled the bank with a quantity of cash
- once outside, the two men were confronted by the same customer, who was shot by the same man, striking him in the upper left abdomen 
-the two men drove away from the scene in a stolen Honda Civic

The stolen vehicle was located by police and seized for forensic examination.

The two men were captured on security camera video. This video has been released along with photographs of the two men.

The man who entered the bank first is described as black, mid-20s, wearing a black hoodie with a white "8" on the left chest, a black Chicago White Sox cap, jeans, black shoes and armed with a silver handgun

The second man entering the bank is described as black, mid-20s, wearing a hoodie with a grey quilted North Face vest on top, baseball cap under the hood, jeans, and grey high-top shoes

They are considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach. If located, call 9-1-1.

Click here to watch security video.

The Canadian Bankers Association is offering up to a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of either suspect in this investigation. Anonymous tips are eligible for this reward, which will be facilitated through Toronto Crime Stoppers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

Constable Wendy Drummond, Corporate Communications, for Staff Inspector Mike Earl, Hold Up Squad







20130422_hld_bank_robbery_reward.jpgThe Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two criminals who robbed a west-end TD Bank in broad daylight on April 21.

One of the two male suspects discharged two shots that struck a 22-year old female bank employee in her thigh and a 54-year-old male customer, who was shot in the abdomen after a confrontation in the bank’s parking lot. Both victims are recovering in hospital.


“We hope this reward will lead to information on these criminals, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence,” said CBA security and intelligence director William Crate.

“Bank robberies are a serious issue, not just for law enforcement but for our communities… It’s not the money that we are concerned about in the banking industry. There are innocent people involved in these (robberies)… Bank robbery is a personal crime.”

The suspect, armed with a silver semi-automatic handgun, was wearing a black hooded sweat top with the number eight over the left breast, a Chicago White Sox cap and faded blue jeans. The other suspect was wearing a hooded sweat top with a baseball cap and faded blue jeans.

Hold Up Squad S/Insp. Mike Earl is requesting the public’s help in apprehending the violent suspects whose getaway car was found about two hours later near Jane St. and Wilson Ave.

“This is a horrific robbery, it’s brazen and it is cowardly,” said Earl.

“From my recollection, the last time a bank teller was shot in a bank was 1999 when Nancy Kidd was murdered in Peel Region,” he said.

“I was working in the Hold Up Squad at the time. It just doesn’t affect the people that are working in that bank. It affects the entire banking industry when something like this happens. These people are just going about doing their jobs and there is no reason for the escalation in violence whatsoever.”

Crate said there were 591 bank robberies last year, a new low, that he attributes to the number of arrests police services across the country make each year.

“It sends a very clear message to potential criminals that, if you rob a bank, you will get caught,” he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

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