Four suspects accused of robbing eight banks around Ontario have been arrested.
One of the banks was the Feversham satellite branch of the Dundalk District Credit Union back in May of 2023. In the case of the local bank, on May 19, 2023, at about 5 p.m. Grey Bruce OPP responded to a robbery at the Feversham branch on Grey Road 2 in Grey Highlands.
It was reported that two individuals, armed with a gun, entered the business, bound employees and stole a quantity of currency.
One suspect is still outstanding in the large police investigation, called Project Opal.
Police say, between December 8, 2022, and March 16, 2024, eight bank robberies occurred within areas policed by the OPP, Barrie Police, Belleville Police, Durham Regional Police, Niagara Regional Police Service and York Regional Police.
Though each police service investigated their respective incidents, in August 2023, the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch became involved to coordinate the investigation into the suspects. They say police identified similar characteristics in the robberies, which pointed to a single group of perpetrators.
The robberies involved two or three individuals entering the banks before closing.
OPP say they wore different masks and clothing in each occurrence. During all robberies, at least one handgun was displayed though no injuries occurred. In the last six robberies, bank employees were bound.
OPP say the group of suspects is responsible for more than $2 million in reported losses across eight banks. The money has not yet been recovered.
On June 21, 2024, three suspects were arrested during an attempted robbery in Field, Ontario, by OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit and the Aviation Unit, with support from OPP West Nipissing Major Crime and CIB. A fourth suspect was arrested on September 25, 2024, in Vaughan. A fifth suspect was charged and remains wanted. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to not approach him and contact police immediately.
While charges have been laid, the investigation continues and police are urging anyone with information to contact their local police, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
The investigation included support from the OPP Grey Bruce Detachment, Centre of Forensic Services and Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).
The Feversham branch of the credit union closed later that year, and its customers were invited to use the Dundalk District Credit Union in Dundalk. A post on the website from November 3rd, 2023 says, the robbery forced their closure for a time, and added, “In coming to our decision, we considered implementing enhanced security measures, eliminating cash on site and replacing our Automated Teller Machine with a cash dispenser, all of which are costly changes. We firmly believe it is not prudent to staff the location with only new employees and do not have human resources within our small organization sufficient to distribute between the two locations.”
They paid out interest rebates, bonuses and fee refunds to their Feversham members, and said, “We appreciate the support our members from that location have shown over the past 16 years and especially following the armed robbery in May that forced branch closure. We sincerely hope that Feversham members will continue to see value in their membership with the Dundalk District Credit Union.”
The five men charged in the robberies range from 24 to 32 years of age and are from Whitby, Oshawa, Ajax and Cobourg.
