Toronto police investigating three separate bank robberies; one arrested
Posted July 28, 2016 12:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto police say they have arrested a man and are looking for two others in separate serial bank robbery investigations.
The so-called “tunnel rat bandit” was arrested on July 18, police said Thursday. He had allegedly robbed nine banks. Each time, he was disguised with a baseball hat, glasses and scarf or fake beard.
He would hand the teller a typed note demanding money. He would also indicate he was armed. He used the subway to flee, leading to his nickname.
Ryan Patrick Flaherty, 27, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with nine counts of robbery, two counts of disguise with intent, and assault.
Earlier this year, the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) said they were offering a $10,000 reward for tips in the case. It’s not clear how many people will receive a reward. However, police said some people would be receiving money.
Police are continuing to look for two other serial bank robbers.
The first, dubbed the “envelope bandit,” robbed five banks between December 2015 and March 2016. The robberies occurred in Toronto, Peel and York regions.
The CBA is also offering a $10,000 reward for tips. A video of the bandit can be seen below, or click here to view it.
The final suspect is also known as the “construction bandit.” He allegedly robbed three banks between January and March of this year, all of them Scotiabank branches in the east end of Toronto. As in the other two cases, the CBA is offering a $10,000 reward for tips.
The man allegedly entered the banks with his face concealed by glasses, a hat and hood. He handed over a holdup note indicating he had a firearm and made a demand for money. He was given a quantity of cash and fled. No one was injured, police said.
In one instance, he was seen wearing a high-visibility work coat, leading to his nickname. He was seen fleeing in a black, older model, four-door Ford Taurus. He is white, approximately 40-50 years old, between six feet tall and six-foot-two, with a heavy build. His picture can be seen below.
