Police in York Region arrest alleged ‘Southbound Bandit’

Almir Mujovic is allegedly the 'Southbound Bandit' behind five bank robberies in York Region.

The alleged “Southbound Bandit” who robbed four banks in York Region in 2012 has been arrested.

York Regional Police said the arrest was made following a bank robbery in the afternoon of Jan. 15 in the area of Yonge Street and Elgin Mills Road in Markham.

An unknown man entered the bank armed with a firearm and made threats, police said. The man fled with a quantity of currency.

Police said the DNA evidence recovered from the scene helped them identify the suspect and also link him to four bank robberies in Feb. 2012 committed by the “Southbound Bandit.”

In a news release on Friday, the suspect was identified as 43-year-old Almir Mujovic of no fixed address. He has been charged with five counts of robbery with a firearm, two counts of disguise with intent and one count of failure to comply with a judicial release order.

Police said at the time of his arrest, Mujovic was on a release order for an unrelated incident.

“The suspect had been seen around the scene without a mask, and investigators believe there may be additional witnesses,” police said, asking anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers anonymously.