Police nab the ‘helmet bandit’ who terrorized Mimico small businesses with a gun for five months.
An armed thief dubbed the ‘helmet bandit’ who with an accomplice robbed four Mimico businesses at gunpoint has been arrested by a Toronto Police Hold Up Squad.
Police said the bandit robbed four businesses along the Royal York Road area in a terrorizing five-month crime spree that preyed on small businesses from May 29 until his arrest on October 8.
Hold Up Squad officers said in a release the suspect would normally enter a business with a handgun and wearing a motorcycle helmet to hide his identity.
Good work in making our community safer by the Toronto Police Hold Up Squad.
The thief would demand cash from store staff and flee in a waiting vehicle, police said.
Officers said the brazen thefts took place along Royal York Road, with two at Lake Shore Blvd. W., another at The Queensway and a third at Dundas Street. W.
Stefan Peric, 34, of Toronto, has been charged with four counts of robbery with offensive weapon, four counts of disguise with intent, four counts of use imitation firearm during commission of an indictable offence and four more or failing to comply with a court order.
He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on October 9.
A second suspect is being sought by police.