This Scotiabank on Dilworth Dr. in Kelowna was robbed by Kevin Power three times in 2012. He was sentenced to five years in jail in Kelowna court Thursday.

Image Credit: Global Okanagan

“AGAIN?" “YEAH... AND NO DYE PACKS.”

KELOWNA – The man responsible for robbing the same bank three times in 2012 was sentenced to five years in jail Thursday.

Kevin Donald Power pleaded guilty to robbing the Scotiabank on Lakeshore Rd. in 2011 as well as another Scotiabank on Dilworth three times in 2012. He was apprehended Dec. 27, 2012 and has been in police custody ever since.

The first robbery took place on Dec. 9, 2011 when, shortly after 2 p.m., Power entered the Scotiabank on Lakeshore Ave.

“This is a robbery,” he told the teller. “I want $10,000 right now.”

He left the bank with approximately $3,000. Less than two months later however, on Feb. 3, he entered another Scotiabank, this one on Dilworth, and escaped with $2,100.

One month after that, on Mar. 9, the same Scotiabank employees saw a short, stocky man enter and once again demand money from the teller.

“Again?” asked the bank manager, who recognized him from one month prior.

“Yeah,” Power said. “And no dye packs.”

Again he managed to escape out the front door on foot, this time with $5,060. It wasn’t until he robbed the same bank for the third time nine months later that he would be apprehended. At around 3 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2012, a now-familiar, stocky man, this time with a scarf partially covering his face, entered the same Scotiabank on Dilworth and told the tellers “this is a robbery. Nobody move and nobody will get hurt.”

He instructed all the tellers to open their tills and removed most of the money, leaving bait bills and dye packs behind.

When he turned to leave with $6,615, he was confronted by an unlikely adversary.

According to Crown prosecutor Murray Kaay, a bank customer identified only as Mr. Waddell, 73, followed Power out the door and confronted him as Power attempted to mount a bicycle in the alley behind the bank.

“Stop following me,” Power screamed. “I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use it.”

When the elderly man asked to see the gun, Power attempted to get on the bike but was pushed to the ground. A struggle ensued during which Mr. Waddell sprained his ankle. Power was spotted a short distance away by police and taken into custody. He was in possession of $6,615 in Canadian bills.

“It’s pretty clear we’re looking at federal time here,” said Judge Robin Smith who received a 36-page handwritten apology from Power. “At age 49, one would hope that Mr. Power will stop this type of robbery of banks. In order to do that he needs to come to full grips with his addictions.”

Power admitted his addiction to opiates since being prescribed morphine in 1982 after being shot at a house party. He also claims to suffer from post-traumatic stress, which he says stems from his time spent overseas in the Canadian military.

Judge Smith pointed out that, although Power was in the military, there is no record of him ever serving in either Bosnia or Somalia, as Power claimed.

Power, who is described as “positive” and “helpful” by family members, has an extensive criminal record. He served one year in 2008, with 13 criminal convictions including robbery and attempted robbery of convenience stores in Ontario.

“My criminal record would suggest that I’m a villain,” Power told the Court. “I’m not a violent person. I’m not a fighting man.”

He requested he be given a sentence of time served with one year of parole; however Judge Smith had a more substantial sentence in mind.

“I kind of like you,” said Judge Smith, who also called him a “good writer” and an "intelligent man." 

“It’s very aggravating that he would keep victimizing the same bank,” he continued. “One can imagine the insecurity (the bank employees) would feel.”

Power was sentenced to five years and one month for four charges of robbery and one charge of disguising his face with intent. He was given credit given for the 385 days he has served in custody.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.

**This story was updated Jan. 21, 2014 to amend the sentence from six to five years, which includes parole.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014