FBI PRESS RELEASE
Boston Division
FBI | One Center Plaza, Suite 600 |
Boston, Massachusetts 02108 | www.fbi.gov/boston
For Immediate Release Contact: Special Agent Gregory
Comcowich
Date: April
10, 2013
(617) 223-6110
News Release:
13-2
MASSACHUSETTS LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SEEK
“MERRIMACK VALLEY
BANDIT”
$10,000 Reward
Offered for Information Leading to Arrest
Banks robbed in Lawrence,
Methuen, Dracut and Groveland
ARMED AND
DANGEROUS
Boston,
MASS - A task force of Massachusetts law enforcement agencies is seeking
the public’s assistance to identify a bank robber allegedly responsible for
seven armed bank robberies in northeastern Massachusetts since February.
The “Merrimack Valley Bandit” is considered armed and dangerous.
During
each of the robberies, the robber used a small handgun and pointed it at the
tellers. In some of the robberies, the robber threatened to harm the
tellers should they not comply with his commands. To facilitate his getaway,
the robber may have an accomplice waiting nearby in a white or light-colored
car.
A
task force composed of the FBI and police departments from Lawrence, Methuen,
Dracut, and Groveland is asking the public to review photos of the robber at
https://bankrobberies.fbi.gov. A
white logo on a jacket worn in one of the robberies may be recognizable by
someone familiar with the suspect.
Although
the specific design is not distinguishable in the surveillance photos, it may
provide useful information about the identity of the robber. Further, the
robber is described as having thin eyebrows.
Additionally,
through a partnership with Clear Channel, digital billboards in the Merrimack
Valley will be used to seek tips from the public.
The
same person is alleged to be responsible for the following robberies:
·
02/21/2013 at
approximately 6:30 pm, TD Bank, 547 Broadway, Methuen, MA
·
03/01/2013 at approximately
7:45 pm, TD Bank, 91 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen, MA
·
03/12/2013 at
approximately 10:30 am, NESC Credit Union, 248 Pleasant St. Methuen, MA
·
03/28/2013 at
approximately 5:24 pm, TD Bank, 350 South Broadway, Lawrence, MA
·
04/03/2013 at
approximately 4:15 pm, TD Bank, 350 South Broadway, Lawrence, MA
·
04/08/2013 at
approximately 5:29 pm, TD Bank, 1255 Bridge St., Dracut, MA
·
04/09/2013 at
approximately 2:12 pm, TD Bank, 280 Main St, Groveland, MA
On
February 21, 2013, TD Bank, 547 Broadway, Methuen, MA, was robbed at
approximately 6:30 pm. The robber entered the bank, threatened harm to the
tellers and demanded money. After exiting the bank, he may have entered a
white or silver vehicle. He is a white male, approximately 5’9” wearing a
white mask, gray-hooded sweatshirt, blue-zippered jacket or sweatshirt with a
white logo, faded blue jeans, black sneakers, and a black glove on one
hand.
On
March 1, 2013, TD Bank, 91 Pleasant Valley Street, Methuen, MA was robbed by an
armed white male at 7:45 pm. The robber was approximately 5’8” to 5’11”,
180 – 200 pounds, with brown eyes. He was wearing a blue-hooded coat with
an undistinguishable logo, blue New York Yankees hat, homemade white mask
that covered his face, black gloves, light blue jeans and brown work boots.
On March 12, 2013,
NESC Credit Union, 244 Pleasant St, Methuen, MA, was robbed by an armed white
male at approximately 10:30 am. He was less than 6
feet tall and wore a black baseball hat, gray- hooded sweatshirt with two black
stripes running down the shoulders with its sleeves cut off near the
elbow. Under the hooded sweatshirt, he wore a long sleeve white
shirt. He wore baggy blue jeans and a black glove on his left hand. His
face was obscured by black sunglasses and a black mask covering his nose and
mouth.
TD Bank, 305 South Broadway, Lawrence, MA was robbed
twice. On March 28, 2013, it was robbed by an armed white male at
approximately 5:24 pm wearing a gray sweatshirt. On April 3, 2013, it was
robbed again by an individual with the same physical characteristics.
On April 8, 2013, at approximately 5:29 pm, TD Bank,
1255 Bridge St., Dracut, MA was robbed by an individual with the same physical
description described above.
On April 9, 2013, at approximately 2:12 pm, TD Bank,
280 Main Street, Groveland, MA was robbed by an individual with the same
physical description described above.
The FBI is offering a monetary reward of up to $10,000
for information leading directly to the arrest of the robber. Anyone with
information regarding the robbery should call the FBI at (617) 742-5533,
Lawrence Police at (978) 794-5900, Methuen Police at (978) 983-8698, Dracut
Police at (978) 957-2123 or Groveland Police at (978) 521-1212.
ARMED AND
DANGEROUS
###
