An Oak Bay bank robbery Tuesday led to a region-wide police pursuit Wednesday that ended in an arrest.
Shortly before 6 p.m. on Dec. 15, a man demanded cash from a teller at the TD Canada Trust in Oak Bay and fled with cash. The suspect did not produce a weapon or threaten bank staff and there were no customers at the time.
The suspect was spotted leaving in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck with a dark-coloured canopy.
“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,” said Sgt. Steve Eassie of Saanich Police. “The vehicle description of the stolen truck matches that of the vehicle used to flee the area by the suspect.”
Later that night, Victoria police discovered the stolen black pickup in the parking lot of the Wendy’s restaurant in the 700 block of Bay Street. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle the driver backed into another car, climbed the curb and fled from police. Police identified the driver and recommended a variety of charges.
Wednesday, West Shore RCMP spotted the stolen truck that made its way through to Victoria before officers discovered it abandoned not far from Hillside mall. Not far away, a VicPD canine officer located and arrested a 20-year-old man who is known to police.
“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,” Eassie said. “This is another great example of regional co-operation amongst the police resources in the Greater Victoria area.”