WATCH ABOVE: According to police, a Wetaskiwin man eluded them for more than two months while robbing 14 banks. Fletcher Kent reports.
EDMONTON — A Wetaskiwin man is in custody and facing 60 charges in connection with a string of armed bank robberies across central and northern Alberta.
Christopher Allan Zubko, 52, is accused of robbing financial institutions in Edmonton, Red Deer, Leduc, Camrose, and Sherwood Park, between Jan. 2, 2015 and March 21, 2015.
Eight of the armed robberies happened in Edmonton, one in Red Deer, two each in Leduc and Camrose and one in Sherwood Park, police say.
Surveillance video and witnesses helped police in their investigation. Police say, in all the robberies, the man is either carrying a firearm or says he has one in his possession. In some of the incidents, he’s disguised in women’s clothing.
On March 13, Strathcona County RCMP pulled over a vehicle that matched the suspect’s vehicle description.
Edmonton police and RCMP set up surveillance on Zubko after that traffic stop, which led to his arrest outside a Camrose bank on Saturday, March 21. The arrest was made by the Strathcona County RCMP with the help of Camrose police.
The Edmonton Police Service says it worked “around the clock” with the RCMP to find the person responsible for the robberies.
“This investigation is a prime example of excellent collaborative policing, which resulted in the arrest of an armed and dangerous suspect that was wreaking havoc on financial institutions across central and northern Alberta,” said Acting Staff Sgt. Simon Yum, of the EPS Robbery Section.
Zubko is facing 60 armed robbery-related charges. Additional charges may be pending.
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