A series of bank robberies in Vancouver's downtown core are believed to have been brought to a halt after a suspect was caught red-handed.

Around 2 p.m. on December 16, two plainclothes Vancouver police officers observed a man entering a bank in Downtown Vancouver, which he robbed.

After he left the bank, officers arrested 50-year-old Darwin McGrath of Vancouver, who is in custody and has been charged with one count of robbery.

Investigators expect additional charges against McGrath, as he could be responsible for up to ten bank robberies in Vancouver as well as one in Surrey.

“We are very proud of our two patrol officers who went beyond the call and brought an end to a series of dangerous robberies that were continuing at an alarming rate,” Vancouver Police Department (VPD) spokesperson Sgt. Jason Robillard stated in a December 18 news release. “Although no physical injuries were reported in any of the robberies, these types of crimes can be emotionally distressing for anyone involved.”

Although officers usually make referrals to the VPD's victim services program, anyone in need of crime victim resources can contact the program at 604-717-2737.