Arrests have been made of two suspects believed to be responsible for simultaneous bank robberies in Abbotsford on Sept. 24.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the two men, ages 25 and 30, were arrested following a robbery in another jurisdiction – he wouldn't say where – and now face charges related to more than 20 bank robberies in eight communities.
Their names have not yet been released.
MacDonald said the two men have also been linked to a robbery of a TD Canada Trust location over the summer in Abbotsford. Video surveillance obtained from the local crime scenes has helped connect the culprits with the incidents in the other communities.
The simultaneous robberies took place Sept. 24 at about 2:10 p.m. at Coast Capital Savings and RBC Royal Bank in the 31900 block of South Fraser Way. Lone men entered each business and produced notes demanding cash. They did not have any weapons.
MacDonald said the men do not appear to be connected to a spree of robberies that have occurred at other Abbotsford businesses. The most recent was on Saturday at about 2:30 a.m., when a lone male entered the Tim Hortons restaurant in the 2000 block of Whatcom Road.
MacDonald said the man was brandishing a knife and yelled that he was robbing the place. He then went to the cash register, while three of the four employees who were working ran to the bathroom and locked the door. There were no customers in the store.
The man demanded that the fourth employee open the cash register for him when he couldn't pry it open. He then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
He is described as Caucasian, 25 to 30 years old, six feet tall, with a thin build and wearing dark shorts, a green hoodie and white runners.
Other robberies that have occurred recently include three at Subway restaurants – on Sept. 4 and 6 at the location in the 2600 block of McMillan Road and on Sept. 21 in the 31900 block of South Fraser Way.
As well, the RBC Royal Bank in the 33700 block of South Fraser Way was robbed last Wednesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the APD at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.