Five people face charges after more than $2 million was stolen in eight bank robberies: OPP

Five people are facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in multiple bank robberies across Ontario that netted more than $2 million.

Ontario Provincial Police say four suspects have been arrested and one remains at large in an ongoing multi-jurisdictional bank robbery investigation called Project Opal.

Police say between December 8, 2022 and March 16 of this year, eight bank robberies occurred in areas covered by the OPP, as well as in the police departments of Barrie, Belleville, Durham Region, Niagara Region and York Region.

OPP Det. Insp. Brian McDermott says three suspects were arrested during an attempted robbery in Field, Ontario, on June 21, after investigators determined a robbery was about to occur and made sure the bank residents were safe before making the arrests.

He says a fourth suspect was arrested on September 25 in Vaughan, Ont., and a fifth suspect is still wanted.

McDermott says the suspects face a total of 53 charges, including robbery with violence, forcible confinement and various firearms offences.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2024.

The Canadian Press