Project Castle nabs Collector Booth bandits

Toronto Police announced on July 28 that they have made multiple arrests of suspects involved in a series of armed robberies in the city, including five Collector Booth holdups.

Hold Up Squad Staff Inspector Mike Earl said numerous search warrants were executed on July 23, which nabbed 10 individuals suspected in armed robberies between March and May of this year. A total of 140 charges were laid. Several handguns, masks and stolen TTC passes were seized. The stations involved were: Greenwood, Donlands, Chester, Castle Frank and Rosedale.

“This is news we’ve been waiting for,” said CEO Andy Byford from police headquarters. “TTC Investigative Services and Toronto Police were involved in a very long and painstaking investigation, and our closed-circuit cameras provided very compelling evidence.”

According to Toronto Police, between March 3 and May 28, there were 12 armed robberies at various subway stations, retail establishments and a bank in the city. No one was injured.

Toronto Police and the TTC continue to seek the public’s assistance in solving armed robberies at Dupont Station in 2012.

At about 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 of that year, a suspect wearing a mask and brandishing a revolver-type handgun approached the Collector Booth at Dupont Station. In what appears to have been a failed attempt to rob the Collector, the suspect began to leave, but for reasons unknown, turned back toward the booth and fired three shots into the glass, striking the Collector twice. The suspect then fled through the station’s northwest exit at the corner of Dupont St. and Spadina Rd. CCTV cameras in the station captured images of the attack.

The TTC is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.