Bank theft suspect arrested
Police seek help in finding serial robbers, ‘construction’ and ‘envelope’ bandits
Toronto police announced an arrest Thursday in the case of a serial bank robber dubbed the “tunnel-rat bandit,” who had been at large since early 2015.
Police said the suspect had fled to Western Canada after a string of nine bank robberies between January and October 2015 in Toronto’s east end. The Canadian Bankers Association had offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Staff Insp. Mike Earl of the Toronto police holdup squad declined to say how much money was stolen during the robberies. He said they each occurred near the subway line.
“The tunnel-rat bandit was dubbed that because he fled into the subway system right after the robberies,” he said.
Police said the suspect disguised himself with a baseball hat, glasses, scarf or fake beard and approached the tellers holding a note demanding money. The notes also indicated he was armed and threatened the employees. No one was ever injured as a result of these incidents.
Malcolm Chivers of the Canadian Bankers Association said he was pleased by the arrest.
“The unpredictability and the potential for the violent nature of this crime is a huge concern for us — our employees of all the banks and also our customers that have the right to go to work in a safe environment and also conduct their business safely,” Chivers said.
Ryan Patrick Flaherty, 27, has been charged with nine counts of robbery, two counts of disguise with intent and one count of assault.
Toronto police are also asking for the public’s help in solving two cold investigations into serial bank robbers dubbed the “construction bandit” and “envelope bandit.”
The construction bandit, who wore a construction worker’s vest during three robberies from January to March this year at Scotiabank branches in the east end, each time presented a note indicating he was armed and then fled with the money.
He also wore a hat, hood and sunglasses and fled in an older-model, black, four-door Ford Taurus. He is described as white, in his 40s or 50s, and just over six feet tall.
The envelope bandit is responsible for five bank robberies from December to March. The first occurred at a TD branch in Mississauga, two at RBCs in Bloor West Village and an- other two at RBCs in King City and Vaughan.
He concealed his face with sunglasses, a scarf, hat and hood and handed over a note in a large envelope demanding money and indicating he was armed with a weapon. Police believe he is in his 30s, between five-foot-five and five-footeight, thin build with a slight moustache.
The bankers association is offering up to $10,000 rewards each for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbers. Anyone with information is asked to call the Toronto police holdup unit or CrimeStoppers.
“Someone out there today knows who these people are. We’re calling on them to do the right thing,” said Chivers. “The small amount of money that these individuals steal cannot be worth the risks that they take in getting the money . . . If you rob a bank you will be caught.”