EDMONTON — A 31-year-old man is facing multiple charges in connection to a series of robberies at ATM bank machines.
Michael Schildwachter is accused of targeting women who were using drive-through ATM machines in south Edmonton.
Police say Schildwachter allegedly wore a balaclava in each incident, while he jumped into the passenger side of vehicles or approached the women in the lobby of a financial institution, as they were about use the ATM. He would then tell the woman he had a weapon and would demand cash, before fleeing the scene to a nearby vehicle.
One of the robberies happened on Boxing Day, when Schildwachter is accused of stealing cash from a 92-year-old woman inside a bank near 108 Street and 23 Avenue.
He’s also accused of robbing a 71-year-old woman on Jan. 15 after following her home from a financial institution also at 108 Street and 23 Avenue.
On Wednesday, Jan. 21 he allegedly jumped into the passenger side of a vehicle and demanded cash from a woman at the same address as the previous two robberies. Police officers were nearby and spotted the suspect vehicle.
In total, Schildwachter is accused of being involved in six robberies from Dec. 26 to Jan. 21.
He’s facing six counts of robbery, four counts of forcible confinement, six counts of disguised with intent and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon.