Police on trail of 'fat bandit'

Although victims initially suspected that a man who robbed three banks within 90 minutes yesterday was wearing a fat suit as a disguise, police today say the man really is fat guy.

"We don't believe it's a fat suit," Det. Russ Rairey told thestar.com today.
"We just think he is fat."

Early reports indicated the robber must have been wearing a "fat suit" to disguise his identity.
But police now believe the robber is about 5-foot-9 and 300 pounds. His beard, however, is a fake.

The three robberies are not connected to the violent bank robbery on Sheppard Ave. later in which police shot a suspect.

Police can't say yet how the chubby bandit was able to get around so quickly in order to pull off the three robberies within a five-mile radius.

"He was seen leaving the bank on foot, but he's got to have some mode of transportation," the detective said.

His first stop was a TD Bank at Bayview and Moore Aves., then another bank on Glencairn Ave. and finally a third on Marlee Ave., all in the midtown area.
Police believe the "fat bandit" has pulled more than the three bank heists and the violence has been escalating.

He produced a gun in all three holdups yesterday and staff were all quite shaken.
Police are working with the Canadian Bankers Association on coming up with a reward. They hope to make an announcement sometime next week.