Barrie Police have arrested a third man in what police say so far appears to be a two-week Southern Ontario crime spree involving stolen cars and bank robberies.
A 21-year-old man was arrested at his Phelpston home north-east of Barrie without incident around 12:30 p.m., according to Barrie Police.
Two other suspects were taken into custody Tuesday night in downtown Barrie after officers stopped a stolen vehicle.
A 16-year-old Sarnia male and a 24-year-old Alberta man were arrested after a foot chase by officers and police dog Thor.
Police allege the trio is linked to a series of bank robberies, including two in Barrie and thefts of vehicles and arson over the last two weeks.
Barrie Police media officer Const. Nicole Rodgers tells BarrieToday the theft charges relate to stolen vehicles in Sarnia and South Simcoe.
A vehicle was stolen in Sarnia during the first week of January and was later burned.
Police said a second vehicle was stolen from South Simcoe the day before the bank heist at the CIBC on Mapleview on Jan. 11.
The 24-year old suspect is additionally charged with three counts of disguise with intent.
Rodgers said the charge relates to the mystery of the strange witness description of one of the bank robbers as having a "freckled, blotchy-faced complexion."
"We believe he wore makeup to conceal facial tattoos," Rodgers explained. "Witnesses said it looked like the robber had pigmentation problems."
The arrests were the result of a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving Barrie, South Simcoe, York, Peel and Toronto Police.
Police allege the crime spree encompassed those jurisdictions and now charges have been laid by those other police forces.
The trio will appear in bail court today.
A 21 year old male has been charged with:
- Arson - Damage to Property
- Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 X 2
- Robbery with Violence X 6
- Theft Over $5,000 of a Motor Vehicle
A 24 year old male has been charged with:
- Arson- Damage to Property
- Assault
- Disguise with Intent X3
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
- Robbery with Violence X 5
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order X 6
- Fail to Comply with Recognizance X 12
A 16 year old male has been charged with:
- Youth Robbery with Theft X 5
- Youth Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $500
