ABOVE: Police believe the same suspect is behind 3 armed TTC robberies. Lama Nicolas reports.
TORONTO – Three recent armed robberies at TTC stations are a “slap in the face” to the public transit agency and the Toronto police, Staff Inspector Mike Earl said at a press conference Monday.
The most recent robbery took place at approximately 10:30 p.m., Sunday. A man wearing a hoodie with a mask covering much of his face, approached the ticket collector and pushed a gun through the hole where tokens and money are exchanged, Earl said. The suspected demanded cash before fleeing. The entirety of the robbery, Earl said, likely last just a “matter of seconds.”
Police would not say how much cash was handed over.
Earl believes the same suspect is responsible for similar incidents at Chester station on August 6 and Christie station on August 26.
All three robberies share a level of boldness that Earl described as a “slap in the face” to transit and police authorities.
“These are planned events, as I said before. This individual has gone to the TTC, to these collector booths, with preparation with his disguise, with his firearm,” Earl said. “He’s definitely bold and brazen and becoming more brazen as the days go on.”
No one has been injured in any of the robberies.
Police have seized security video from the station and are investigating but say witnesses were scarce at the time of the robberies.
“He’s done his homework, at least in his mind, in selecting his times,” Earl said.
Police do not believe the recent armed robberies are connected to the shooting of a TTC attendant at Dupont Station in February 2012.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Toronto police hold-up squad.
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