Man, 24, charged after 3 Toronto banks robbed in 2 weeks

A Toronto man is facing charges in connection with three bank robberies earlier this month.

Toronto police say in all three incidents, the suspect disguised himself and produced a holdup note to the bank tellers demanding money. He was successful in obtaining an undisclosed amount of money each time before fleeing the scene, usually in a taxi.

The first incident took place around 3:40 p.m. on May 7, when a downtown bank was robbed in the Bloor Street and Runnymede Road area, according to police.

A man entered a bank branch wearing dark sunglasses and showed the teller a holdup note. He obtained money and fled the scene in a taxi.

On May 13 around 12:45 p.m., the same suspect was identified in a robbery of an Etobicoke bank in The Queensway and Islington Avenue area.

Police say the disguised man wore a construction jacket, a hard hat, sunglasses and a black mask concealing the lower half of his face. He reportedly displayed a holdup note to the victim, obtained an undisclosed quantity of money and fled in a taxi.

Police say the third incident took place in Etobicoke on Friday afternoon.

Around 3:45 p.m., a man entered a bank in the Islington Avenue and Rathburn Road area wearing dark sunglasses and a hooded jacket. He reportedly presented the bank employee with a holdup note demanding money and fled once it was in his possession.

After the incident, Toronto police located the victim and arrested him following a short confrontation.

Steven Albanese, 24, of Toronto, has been charged with three counts of robbery, assault to resist arrest and possession of property obtained by crime.

Albanese appeared in a Toronto court on Saturday morning.