A serial robber is on the loose in Victoria.
A dozen Victoria police patrol, bike, forensic identification services, detectives and canine officers are following the trail of a male suspect, who is allegedly behind a string of robberies on Thursday.
“It was all hands on deck,” said Victoria police spokesperson Const. Mike Russell.
Officers are crediting eye witnesses for helping them in their pursuit of the alleged thief.
“Along the way our officers have been getting the, ‘Hey! He’s over there. Hey! That way!'” Russell said.
Investigators say the crime spree began at the TD Canada Trust bank branch at 1080 Douglas St. Thursday at 8:50 a.m. The suspect threatened to use a weapon, though none was ever seen. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of money, heading southbound on foot along Douglas Street.
As a rule, police don’t reveal the amount of money robbed from banks for investigative reasons, Russell said.
A few hours later, police were called to Auto Vibrations Sound at 1930 Blanshard St. at 12:10 p.m. after the same man allegedly threatened staff with a weapon, though none was produced, and demanded cash.
He left empty-handed, heading northbound on Blanshard Street.
Police were in the middle of investigating that attempted robbery when a 911 call came in at 12:17 p.m. for another attempted robbery.
No cash was taken from Instaloans, located in the 2000-block of Douglas St., but police say the suspect again threatened to use a weapon, though none was produced.
Police are also following a trail of forensic evidence left behind by the suspect.
“We’re certainly finding items of clothing,” Russell said. “He is changing (clothes) between (robberies).”
The man has always covered the lower half of his face with a scarf or cloth, Russell said.
Police are looking for a white man, between five-feet-11 and six-feet tall, with blue eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact VicPD at 250-995-7654 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
