Man, woman arrested in string of armed bank robberies in North York
Posted February 24, 2023 11:13 am.
Toronto police have made two arrests following a string of armed bank robberies in North York over the past three months.
Police responded to six holdups at banks in the area of Finch Avenue and Yonge Street between Nov. 23 and Feb. 13. In each case the suspects involved made off with a quantity of cash in a getaway vehicle.
It is alleged a male suspect in a mask would approach a teller and hand them a note demanding cash in each incident.
During the first two robberies, the note advised the teller the suspect was armed with a bomb. The suspect would instead pull out a handgun in the four remaining robberies.
In the most recent incident, the suspect approached a female customer who was using an ATM and grabbed her by the throat, pointed a gun at her, and then demanded cash before fleeing.
Police arrested 41-year-old James Arron Stewart and 29-year-old Sheila Grozdev on Wednesday. Both suspects are Toronto residents.
Stewart is facing 16 charges including five counts of armed robbery. Grozdev is facing two charges, including one count of armed robbery.
The pair appeared in a Toronto courtroom on Thursday.
