Man turns himself in after $10K reward offered

A 37-year-old man turned himsef into police after the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) offered a $10,000 reward in a rare exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a robber who has evaded capture for five years

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Kevin John Pinto, of Toronto, turned himself in Friday, October 3, after investigators released pictures of the Exchange Bandit the day before. The bandit, first noticed robbing banks in Toronto and Peel Region in 2003, was nicknamed for words he used during the robberies.

He is alleged to have robbed 10 Toronto financial institutions – 21 in total – from St. Catharines to Kitchener, according to Hold Up Squad Det. Garry Deller. Following a two-year break, the man began a series of robberies in Oakville, Toronto and Cambridge in March of this year, with the most recent hit on Sept. 12

Bill Crate, director of security for the CBA, said it’s rare that they offer rewards since police usually catch up to the robbers.

“The police, for their part, have an excellent record at getting bank robbers off the street,” Crate said. “Because of these high clearance rates, this crime, to me, doesn’t make any sense.”

The Hold Up Squad solves between 85 and 90% of its cases.

“If you rob a bank, you’ll get caught,” Crate said.

The bank security director said the largest concern the banking community has is the safety of its customers and employees, who are held captives by robbers.

“The bank employee has no idea who they are dealing with and what they are capable of,” Crate said. “There are times where it can be very traumatic.”

Toronto police have released images of the man in different clothing, the latest of which was taken during the Sept. 12 robbery, at a Scotia Bank located in the heart of the financial district on King Street West.

Pinto has been charged with 10 counts of robbery.Culled