Authorities are turning up the heat on a person they say has been robbing banks across southern Ontario for the last nine months.
A $10,000 reward was issued on Tuesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect nicknamed the "Vault Bandit."
Police believe the man is responsible for at least 10 hold-ups in the city of Hamilton, as well as the regions of York and Peel.
The reward, being offered by the Canadian Bankers Association, was announced at York Regional Police headquarters in Vaughan, Monday morning.
Between February 3 and September 11, 10 banks were robbed in the towns of Markham and Richmond Hill and the cities of Vaughan, Mississauga and Hamilton.
In each case, the suspect entered the bank, jumped over the counter and demanded money. Police said the suspect indicated he had a weapon. A handgun was spotted during one robbery.
Investigators said on Monday they believe the robberies were committed by the same person.
Security video released today showed the man calmly walking into a bank wearing a red hat and hopping over the counter. He then removed money from the bank teller's drawer before casually leaving the building.
"When he comes over, he says he has a gun and he is in your workspace, I'd say that is pretty traumatic," said York Police Det.-Sgt. Bob Wassink.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Doug Cole of the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, leave an anonymous tip online atwww.1800222tips.comor text your tip by sending TIPYORK and your message to CRIMES(274637).
With a report from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney
