The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an arrest in a bank robbery investigation.
See excerpt from Friday, February 26, 2016 news release:
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Toronto Police Service Hold Up is seeking assistance identifying a man involved in two financial institution robberies.
It is reported that:
- on Thursday, February 11, 2016, at 6:45 p.m., in the Sheppard Avenue East and Midland Avenue area, a man entered the branch and approached a teller
- the man handed over a note which stated he was robbing the bank and that he had a gun
- the man was given a quantity of cash which he put into his black satchel
- the man then walked out of the branch
It is further reported that:
- on Friday, February 19, 2016, at 6:45 p.m., in the Yonge Street and Yonge Boulevard area, a man entered the branch and approached a teller
- the man handed over a note stating that he was robbing the bank
- the man started to pull a gun out of a satchel
- the man was given a quantity of cash
- the man then walked out of the branch
He is described as white, in his 40s, 5'7" - 5'9", thin build, clean-shaven and wears prescription glasses.
Security camera footage is now available on YouTube.
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It is further alleged that:
- between Thursday, February 11, 2016, and Friday, February 26, 2016, the man robbed three banks in Toronto, and one in Cobourg
- in each of the robberies, he presented a hold up note demanding cash, opened the satchel he was carrying, and showed the butt of a handgun
- in two of these robberies, he was wearing a wig
- on Friday, March 4, 2016, the man attended a bank in Markham, concealing his identity with a balaclava
- he placed a handgun on the counter and made a verbal demand for cash
- he was given cash, but then vaulted the counter to obtaining more
- on Thursday, March 10, 2016, the man entered a secondary school in Belleville and discharged a firearm
- shortly afterwards, he entered a bank, brandished a firearm, vaulted the counter, and obtained cash
- on Monady, April 4, 2016, the man attended a currency exchange business in Burlington, vaulted the counter, and obtained cash
- in all of the robberies, he was armed with a gun, however, no physical injuries were ever sustained
Following a joint investigation with Cobourg Police Service, York Regional Police , Belleville Police Service, and Halton Regional Police Service, Zak Bayfield, 40, of Whitby, was arrested on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. He is charged with:
1) five counts of Robbery while Armed with Firearm
2) Robbery
3) five counts of Disguise with Intent
4) five counts of Use Firearm in Commission of Offence
5) five counts of Careless use of a Firearm
6) five counts of Careless Storage of a Firearm
In addition, Belleville Police Service will be laying the following charges:
1) Robbery with a Firearm
2) Use Firearm in a Commission of an Offence
3) Point Firearm
4) Discharge Firearm with Intent
5) Carry Concealed Weapon
6) Possession of a Firearm for a Dangerous Purpose
He is scheduled to appear in court at 1911 Eglinton Avenue East, on Thursday, April 14, 2016, in courtroom 412, at 10 a.m.
It is also alleged that he is a licensed gun owner. Photos of the guns used, and seized by police are available.
Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.
See excerpt from Friday, February 26, 2016 news release:
---
Toronto Police Service Hold Up is seeking assistance identifying a man involved in two financial institution robberies.
It is reported that:
- on Thursday, February 11, 2016, at 6:45 p.m., in the Sheppard Avenue East and Midland Avenue area, a man entered the branch and approached a teller
- the man handed over a note which stated he was robbing the bank and that he had a gun
- the man was given a quantity of cash which he put into his black satchel
- the man then walked out of the branch
It is further reported that:
- on Friday, February 19, 2016, at 6:45 p.m., in the Yonge Street and Yonge Boulevard area, a man entered the branch and approached a teller
- the man handed over a note stating that he was robbing the bank
- the man started to pull a gun out of a satchel
- the man was given a quantity of cash
- the man then walked out of the branch
He is described as white, in his 40s, 5'7" - 5'9", thin build, clean-shaven and wears prescription glasses.
Security camera footage is now available on YouTube.
---
It is further alleged that:
- between Thursday, February 11, 2016, and Friday, February 26, 2016, the man robbed three banks in Toronto, and one in Cobourg
- in each of the robberies, he presented a hold up note demanding cash, opened the satchel he was carrying, and showed the butt of a handgun
- in two of these robberies, he was wearing a wig
- on Friday, March 4, 2016, the man attended a bank in Markham, concealing his identity with a balaclava
- he placed a handgun on the counter and made a verbal demand for cash
- he was given cash, but then vaulted the counter to obtaining more
- on Thursday, March 10, 2016, the man entered a secondary school in Belleville and discharged a firearm
- shortly afterwards, he entered a bank, brandished a firearm, vaulted the counter, and obtained cash
- on Monady, April 4, 2016, the man attended a currency exchange business in Burlington, vaulted the counter, and obtained cash
- in all of the robberies, he was armed with a gun, however, no physical injuries were ever sustained
Following a joint investigation with Cobourg Police Service, York Regional Police , Belleville Police Service, and Halton Regional Police Service, Zak Bayfield, 40, of Whitby, was arrested on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. He is charged with:
1) five counts of Robbery while Armed with Firearm
2) Robbery
3) five counts of Disguise with Intent
4) five counts of Use Firearm in Commission of Offence
5) five counts of Careless use of a Firearm
6) five counts of Careless Storage of a Firearm
In addition, Belleville Police Service will be laying the following charges:
1) Robbery with a Firearm
2) Use Firearm in a Commission of an Offence
3) Point Firearm
4) Discharge Firearm with Intent
5) Carry Concealed Weapon
6) Possession of a Firearm for a Dangerous Purpose
He is scheduled to appear in court at 1911 Eglinton Avenue East, on Thursday, April 14, 2016, in courtroom 412, at 10 a.m.
It is also alleged that he is a licensed gun owner. Photos of the guns used, and seized by police are available.
Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.