

Rachael D'Amore, CP24.com





A suspect has been arrested in connection with a string of nine robberies targeting mainly banks in Toronto, the GTA and southern Ontario this year, police announced Thursday.

According to police, the same man allegedly robbed five financial branches in Toronto and one in Cobourg in February, and branches in Markham and Belleville, as well as a currency exchange business in Burlington, between March 4 and April 4.

In some of the robberies, the suspect entered the bank and handed the teller a note demanding cash and indicating that he had a gun. In others, he vaulted the branch counter.

During some of the robberies, the man made no attempt to disguise himself. In two robberies committed in February, he wore a wig. During the Markham robbery, the man wore a balaclava, police said.

The first robbery happened on Feb. 11 in the Sheppard and Midland avenues area. The most recent occurred at a currency exchange business in Burlington on April 4.

On March 10, the man allegedly entered a secondary school in Belleville and fired a gun inside before fleeing. Shortly after, police believe the man entered a nearby bank wielding a firearm and vaulted over the bank counter to obtain an undisclosed amount of cash.

On Wednesday, a suspect was arrested following a joint investigation involving Cobourg police, York Regional Police, Belleville police and Halton Regional Police.

Zak Bayfield, 40, of Whitby, faces a number of charges including five counts of armed robbery, five counts of disguise with intent, and five counts of using a firearm in the commission of an offence.

Belleville police will additionally be laying six charges against Bayfield, including armed robbery, carrying a concealed weapon, and using a firearm in the commission of an offence.

Police allege that guns seized by officers in connection with the investigation were legally owned by the suspect.

Bayfield was expected to make an appearance in court Thursday morning.