Bank robber disguised himself as woman

A Wetaskiwin man owned up Friday to committing a spree of bank robberies — some while he was dressed up as a woman — across central and northern Alberta.

Christopher Allan Zubko, 53, pleaded guilty in Edmonton’s Court of Queen’s Bench to 12 counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery with a handgun.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Zubko robbed 12 banks in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Camrose and Leduc between Jan. 2, 2015, and March 17, 2015.

Crown prosecutor Carrie-Ann Downey told court Zubko produced what appeared to be a gun in all of the robberies and he used it to demand cash from tellers.

Court heard Zubko disguised himself by wearing multiple layers of clothing and used sunglasses, scarves and hoodies to cover up his face in the majority of the holdups. In three of the robberies, he wore women’s clothing and a long black wig and carried a purse.

According to the agreed facts, police had little information to help them identify a suspect until a March 5, 2015, robbery at a TD bank in Sherwood Park when surveillance video and witnesses helped identify a red 2004 or 2005 Volkswagen Jetta as a getaway vehicle.

Eight days later, Mounties in Sherwood Park saw a Jetta matching the description and began following it. The officers then did a traffic stop after Zubko failed to signal a turn and were able to identify him as the registered driver.

Court heard police also spotted a large amount of clothing, including female garb, in the rear of the car.

Zubko was ticketed and let go, but police later began a surveillance operation against him.

On March 21, 2015, Zubko was observed by police shoplifting women’s clothing from a Walmart in Wetaskiwin. He was then followed as he drove to Camrose and was seen disguising himself in the stolen female garb before walking over to a nearby ATB branch.

Zubko was nabbed at the front doors of the bank, court heard.

Court heard Zubko initially did not co-operate with police, but later admitted he had no intention of hurting anyone and had done the robberies because his new girlfriend had cancer and he wanted to help her out financially. He also said he was working full time but had spent all his savings and maxed out his credit cards.

The total amount robbed was approximately $28,000.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 17.