Here is an article from the Oct 4/08, The Globe and Mail, Toronto.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081004.wpinto04/BNStory/Front/
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The banker, the bandit and the bounty
JOSH WINGROVE
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
October 4, 2008 at 3:36 AM EDT
TORONTO - He'd walk into a bank as calmly as anyone else - no disguise, no
mask, no rush.
Time never seemed to be of concern. Once, he wore glasses and a blue fleece,
standing patiently with his arms folded. Another day, he wore a hoodie and a
baseball cap and stood once again, his mouth hanging open. During another,
he looked more the role with his black hat, although his face was still
uncovered, his glasses clearly identifiable.
He'd soon approach the desk. He'd demand cash, threaten the teller and often
say he had a gun - although no weapon was ever seen. Sometimes he was given
cash; other times he came out empty-handed. But in each case he ran, and got
away.
And so it continued, since 2003, in some 26 suspected robberies carried out
by the "exchange bandit." The most recent happened last month, and this
week, the Canadian Bankers Association decided that was enough.
Enlarge Image (*** See weblink below for photos ***)
Security-camera images show the many guises of the suspect sought in 26 bank
robberies. Kevin John Pinto of Toronto turned himself in Friday.
On Thursday, it offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of the thief, a "rare" move for the association, said
William Crate, its director of security. The problem wasn't the money being
stolen, but the staff traumatized by the violent threats, he said. Some
required counselling.
"Bank robbery is first and foremost a personal crime," he said.
To draw tips from the public, police released a trio of photos, which ran on
television on Thursday evening and in newspapers Friday.
The attention seems to have worked. Police received a slew of calls Friday
from people who thought they knew who the man was, but they proved
unnecessary.
On Friday morning, they got a break. A 37-year-old vice-president of a
Toronto investment firm walked into a downtown police station, with his
lawyer, and turned himself in.
A compliance officer with Paradigm Capital in Toronto's financial district,
Kevin John Pinto's job was to make sure his company's deals were all within
regulation and above-board. On Friday, Mr. Pinto was charged by Toronto
police with 10 bank robberies. More charges from other regions are expected,
Constable Tony Vella said.
Friday night, Paradigm Capital confirmed Mr. Pinto had been an employee
since January, 2006. Chief executive officer David Roland said the company
found out about the allegations Friday afternoon, suspended Mr. Pinto, began
contacting all the regulatory bodies which may need to investigate, while
striking up an investigation of its own. "This has obviously come as a
complete surprise with us," Mr. Roland said in an interview.
Paradigm is a Canadian investment dealer with about three dozen employees.
Its website lists a series of multimillion-dollar transactions it has
handled. In a letter sent to clients last night, Paradigm outlined its
response to the charges against Mr. Pinto and said it "has no reason to
believe that any of its records, securities or client funds have been
compromised."
The first heists were noted in 2003 in Toronto and Peel region. The next
year, police noticed robberies in Kitchener, St. Catharines and Niagara
Falls that seemed to share characteristics.
The photos of the suspect, actions he took, and what he said to tellers were
all similar, although police wouldn't say specifically what they were. No
specific banks were repeatedly targeted. Then, in 2005 and 2006, the
robberies appear to have stopped. Police don't know why.
But in March, 2007, heists bearing the same marks popped up again in
Toronto, Cambridge and Oakville. They continued this year, most recently
Sept. 12 at a Scotiabank at 44 King St. W., just around the corner from
Paradigm's offices at 95 Wellington St. W. The suspect's descriptions,
actions and identifiable traits in the recent heists all match the earlier
ones, police say.
Mr. Pinto spent the night in police custody - a "lockup" of recently
arrested people awaiting a court appearance the next day - while his firm
scrambled to alert concerned clients.
He's set to appear in court at Old City Hall Saturday morning. (ENDS)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081004.wpinto04/BNStory/Front/
