The Port Moody Police have arrested several people in connection with a string of robberies, including several bank hold-ups, stretching back to last fall.

Last October, the Scotiabank at 2501 St. Johns St. was robbed twice in about a week, both times in the middle of the day. In each incident, a lone male entered the bank and demanded money from the startled tellers, then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The PMPD used surveillance video footage to track down and arrest suspects in each case. They can't be identified because one is a youth and police are still investigating additional charges against the other.

"There are other pending cases that are intertwined with that, so his name is not being released for investigative purposes," said PMPD Const. Bill Kim.

As well, two men are facing charges in connection with two separate robberies at the Bank of Montreal at 228 Ungless Way that also occurred within about a week of each other.

In the first, shortly before noon on Nov. 28, 2008, a young man walked into the bank and demanded money. He fled in a maroon-coloured Mustang with an accomplice. PMPD officers spotted the vehicle and followed it through Coquitlam and into Maple Ridge, where the Mustang rammed into a Maple Ridge RCMP cruiser. The two suspects fled but the passenger was arrested nearby. The young offender was later charged; he pleaded guilty to robbery and is now behind bars. The driver has been identified and is being sought by police.

The BMO bank was robbed again on Dec. 3, 2008. The PMPD released a photo of the suspect captured from surveillance footage and later identified him as Coquitlam resident Meysam Mokri, 27. He's facing robbery charges and was released earlier this week on $5,000 bail. His next court appearance is on April 9.

And three men have been arrested in connection with a Newport Village robbery in November 2008. At about 7 p.m. on Nov. 26, a group of men entered Zed's Clothing store, assaulted the owner and stole a quantity of high-end clothes.

The three were later identified and two, James Plasman and Edward Godin, are currently facing robbery and weapons charges. The third suspect has been identified and is being sought by police.

Another man is facing charges in connection with a residential break-and-enter on Jan. 20 of this year. Dennis Linklater, 30, is currently in custody and is charged with numerous break-and-enter, fraud and possession of stolen property offences from throughout Greater Vancouver in addition to the Port Moody break-in.

spayne@tricitynews.com