A White Rock man accused of committing 12 ATM robberies has elected to be tried on the charges by a Supreme Court judge and jury.
Travis Jensen-Pickford made the election Thursday in a brief video appearance in Surrey Provincial Court.
The 23-year-old has been in custody since June 15, and is facing 36 charges in connection with robberies that occurred in White Rock and Surrey between May 12 and the day of his arrest. All but two took of the crimes took place on the Semiahmoo Peninsula. One occurred in Newton, and another near 186 Street and Fraser Highway.
In each instance, a victim was approached by a masked man while withdrawing money from an ATM during non-banking hours. The robber’s unusual choice of disguise led to police referring to the man as the “surgical mask bandit.”
Jensen-Pickford’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 4. A preliminary inquiry is set for Nov. 12-15 and 18.