Charges have been laid against a Langley man who is accused of robbing or attempting to rob no fewer than seven banks in the Lower Mainland during a five week span, from Jan. 27 to March 4, 2015.
Thomas Dennis Prosser, 36, was arrested by Ridge Meadows RCMP on March 4, after a lone male entered a Bank of Montreal in the 20600 block of Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge.
Police say the man indicated that he had a gun and was able to flee the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.
Investigators of Ridge Meadow RCMP’s Street Enforcement Unit had earlier viewed photographs of a suspect believed to be responsible for a string of six bank robberies in Langley and Surrey.
Believing the suspect they had in custody was also responsible for those robberies, they contacted RCMP in Surrey and Langley.
A search warrant was executed at Prosser’s Langley residence and all investigative findings were forwarded to Crown Counsel who approved seven counts of robbery. Prosser remains in custody pending a court appearance.
In addition to the March 4 robbery in Maple Ridge, the charges against Prosser stem from incidents which took place on Jan. 26, Feb. 17, Feb. 20, Feb. 27 and March 3.
The first robbery took place at a Royal Bank in Surrey, where a man entered the bank and produced a note indicating that he was armed and demanding money. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken.
On Feb. 17, the man attempted to rob the New Westminster Savings Credit Union, located in the 20800 Block of Fraser Highway in Langley. In this instance, no cash was obtained.
Three days later, on Feb. 20, the man entered the TD Canada Trust in the 18600 block of Fraser Hwy. in Surrey and produced a note indicating that he was armed. Once again, the suspect departed with an undisclosed amount of money.
Similar incidents occurred on Feb. 27 at an HSBC in the 20000 block of the Langley Bypass, on March 3 at a Surrey Scotia Bank and again on March 3 at an Aldergrove CIBC. In each of those cases, the suspect once again produced a note and managed to get away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police are continuing their investigation and asking anyone who may have further information to call them or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
