Police have arrested a suspect in the Tuesday robbery of the TD Canada Trust on Oak Bay Avenue after a series of events involving a stolen pickup truck and efforts to elude officers.
A 20-year-old man was arrested about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near Hillside Avenue and Doncaster Drive. He was tracked by a police dog team after a stolen vehicle, a 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck believed to have been used in the robbery, was found unoccupied nearby about 10 minutes earlier.
The man was taken into custody and is being held for a court appearance.
The arrest came less than 24 hours after the bank at Oak Bay Avenue and Hampshire Road was robbed by a man wearing work gear, including safety glasses, gloves and a coat with reflective stripes.
The man entered the bank at Oak Bay Avenue and Hampshire Road about 5:45 p.m. and gave a note to a teller demanding money, police said. He did not show a weapon or make threats and there were no customers inside at the time.
A truck matching the description of the getaway vehicle was spotted by police a number of times between the robbery on Tuesday and the arrest on Wednesday.
Saanich Sgt. Steve Eassie said Victoria police encountered the pickup in the parking lot of the Wendy’s restaurant at Bay and Blanshard streets about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The truck, which had been reported stolen Tuesday morning, hit another vehicle in the parking lot, then mounted a curb as the driver fled.
About 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, West Shore RCMP caught sight of the truck, which was then spotted by a number of other officers as it was driven toward Victoria.
The arrest was made less than an hour later.
Police believed from the outset that the getaway vehicle used in the robbery was the stolen truck.
“Our investigation into these matters is ongoing,” Eassie said.
“Our investigators believe there is a direct connection to the stolen vehicle, the suspect and the robbery. As a result, charges for robbery will also be recommended against the suspect.”
The case shows how police departments are able to work together, he said.
“The assistance and communications between the West Shore RCMP, VicPD and Saanich police led to the successful arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the stolen vehicle,” Eassie said.
“This is another great example of regional co-operation amongst the police resources in the Greater Victoria area.”
