A 36-year-old Burnaby man charged last week in relation to a Richmond robbery now faces a total of 27 charges, after a Richmond and Burnaby RCMP investigation linked him to an alleged string of armed robberies at currency exchanges.
Between Dec. 30, 2011 and Jan. 20, 2012 there were four similar robberies of currency exchanges or financial institutions in Burnaby and five robberies in Richmond.
"Burnaby and Richmond RCMP investigators quickly realized they could both be looking for the same suspect," Sgt. Peter Thiessen said in a press release. "The suspect description was similar, though he took pains to disguise his features, and there were similarities in the way the crimes were committed."
Kevin Xiao Dong Luo has now been charged with 11 counts of robbery, nine counts of wearing a disguise in the commission of an indictable offence and seven counts of using an imitation firearm in the commission of an indictable offence.
Luo is alleged to have used a knife or replica handgun during the commission of the offences.
Police investigators indicate that he was not known to police prior to these incidents.
"This type of cooperation between RCMP detachments and other police agencies, is critical to our ability to quickly solve crimes that put the public at risk," said Chief Supt. Janice Armstrong. "We fully support an integrated and regional approach to policing in the Lower Mainland. The importance of sharing information and working together cannot be overstated."
Luo appeared in court on Jan. 31 and has been remanded in custody.
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