On Wednesday, police arrested and charged a male suspect in connection to several armed bank and retail robberies in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond.
The Toronto Police Service (TPS) announced the arrest on Thursday evening.
Authorities said between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25, police in Toronto, Guelph, Hamilton, Peel, Halton and Niagara Regions responded to 14 bank robberies and two retail robbery calls.
Police have yet to say if the arrested suspect, 52-year-old Alan Haaksma of Oakville, is connected to all 16 reported robberies.
TPS shared a video of one robbery incident in which a lone suspect can be seen entering what appears to be a bank while holding a knife.
The suspect wore a face mask, black toque, black jacket and jeans while carrying a fabric storage box.
Police said the suspect approached an employee and made demands for cash.
The employee surrendered money and the suspect fled the scene.
As of Thursday night, Haaksma has been charged with six counts of robbery with an offensive weapon and six counts of disguise with intent.
In the investigation, TPS said its Hold Up Squad collaborated with the Peel Regional Police Central Robbery Bureau, the Halton Regional Police Robbery Unit, the Hamilton Police Service B.E.A.R. Unit and members from the Guelph Police Service and Niagara Regional Police Service Criminal Investigations Bureaus.
As part of the multi-jurisdictional effort, officers from Toronto Police Public Safety Response Team located Haaksma and took him into custody.
At the time of his arrest, officers said they executed a search and discovered "a quantity of cash and other items of evidentiary value related to the investigation."
Haaksma was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Feb. 27.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges are expected.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350 or to submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers online or at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
