$50,000 reward offered in ‘increasingly violent’ bank robberies

Watch: A $50, 000 dollar reward is being offered for information that would lead to the capture of masked armed bandits. Lama Nicolas reports.   

TORONTO – Police are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of suspects involved in eight Greater Toronto Area (GTA) bank robberies that have occurred since June 1.

“These individuals are coming masked, coming with hand guns and jumping over the counters,” said Staff Inspector Mike Earl at a press conference Thursday morning. “They have been pistol whipping tellers, pushing tellers and one in a choke hold.”

The violent daylight robberies have spread across the GTA including five in Toronto, two in Peel Region and one in York Region.

“We are concerned about the innocent people affected, our customers and employees,” said Bill Crate, Director of Security for the Canadian Bankers Association.

Police have released a video of the robberies hoping anyone can identify the suspects.

Police believe more than two groups of individuals are involved and vehicles were also used during their getaways.

The suspects are described as male-black, between five feet six inches to six feet tall and in their twenties.