Saanich Police have confirmed that a suspect has been arrested in relation to a robbery at the TD Canada Trust bank in Oak Bay, that occurred Tuesday night.
The robbery happened around 5:45 p.m., an unidentified male entered the TD Canada Trust and produced a note demanding money from one of the tellers working at the bank.
The male fled from the bank after receiving a quantity of cash from the teller and was observed driving away from the area in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck with a dark coloured canopy on Oak Bay Avenue towards downtown.
The suspect did not produce a weapon and made no threats towards staff at the bank. At the time of the incident, there were no other customers within the bank.
Saanich Police were contacted by the owner of a 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck who reported the vehicle as stolen early Tuesday morning.
“We believe that the vehicle used in this incident may be related to the report of a theft of a vehicle reported to police earlier this same day” Sgt. Steve Eassie said.
“The vehicle description of the stolen truck matches that of the vehicle used to flee the area by the suspect”.
Later in the day, Victoria Police found the black Dodge Ram pickup parked at the Wendy’s restaurant on Bay Street.
When the officer ran the plates on the vehicle, it was determined to be the vehicle that was reported stolen earlier that same day.
When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspect backed the stolen vehicle into a another car, mounted a curb, and fled from police. The officers were able to identify the driver of the stolen vehicle
Around noon Wednesday, Westshore RCMP observed the stolen vehicle being driven by the same driver identified by Victoria Police the previous evening.
Police chose to follow the truck instead of pulling it over for the public’s safety.
During that that time, Victoria Police and Saanich Police join in following the truck as the vehicle drove through Esquimalt, Saanich, and Victoria.
The driver managed to get away from the police but around 1:25 p.m. the stolen vehicle was located parked on the side of the road and unoccupied near the intersection of Doncaster and Westall Road and a VICPD K9 officer was able to track the suspect and apprehend him in the 1500 block of Hillside Avenue.
The suspect, a 20 year old male from the Greater Victoria area, who is known to police as a result of previous police contact, was taken into custody and will be held for a court appearance.
“Our investigation into these matters is ongoing” Sgt. Steve Eassie said. “Our investigators believe that there is a direct connection to the stolen vehicle, the suspect, and the robbery that took place yesterday in the late afternoon. As a result, charges for the robbery will also be recommended against the suspect.”
The stolen vehicle has been recovered and will be searched for evidence relating to these incidents.
Anyone that may have information about this incident are asked to contact the Saanich Police Department at 250-475-4321, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222 TIPS (8477).
