Police say three suspects believed to be responsible for a string of robberies at Scotiabank branches throughout southern Ontario — including three in Niagara — were arrested on Friday after crashing their getaway car in Acton.

Halton police said the three young offenders were fleeing after a Scotiabank branch at Mill Street East in Acton had been robbed at about 2:18 p.m., when the grey Chevy Cruz they were in slammed into a Nissan Pathfinder at the intersection of Highway 7 and 22 Side Road.

The vehicle burst into flame moments after the suspects were in police custody.

Police said two of the suspects were transported to a local hospital due to injuries they received in the collision. The woman who had been driving the Nissan was also treated for injuries.

"We believe that the one from Friday that occurred at Scotiabank in Acton is linked to the series (of bank robberies) including the ones in Niagara," said Halton Det. Const. Ian Lynn.

The trio are suspected of having robbed numerous bank branches in the past three months, including locations in Niagara Falls at 6225 Thorold Stone Rd. on Dec. 15, St. Catharines at 343 Glendale Ave. on Jan. 3, Grimsby at 150 Main St. E. on Jan. 4, as well as branches in Burlington, London, Markham, Scarborough, Ancaster, Georgetown and Alliston.

Lynn said police offices from across southern Ontario including Niagara, Halton and Hamilton teamed up to investigate the crime wave, looking for similarities in each of the robberies.

"My understanding is that because there were some that occurred in Niagara region and some that occurred here, and they are believed to be related, there was a meeting that involved other services," he said.

Lynn said it's unknown why only Scotiabank branches were robbed.

"I think it might just be the location relative to the main road," he said, adding that seemed to be the case in Acton.

"I don't think there's any particular reason why it's a Scotiabank. I don't know that they were being targeted."

Allan.Benner@niagaradailies.com

905-225-1629 | @abenner1

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