MAKE THAT NINE! Merrimack Valley Bandit Busy Over Holiday Weekend, Hits Dracut Bank and Methuen Convenience Store

 

 Merrimack Valley Bandit

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4wgEVi_9LM]

 

By: Tom Duggan – April 14, 2013

The Merrimack Valley Bandit struck again twice this weekend. The first robbery occurred at a TD Bank North in Dracut on Saturday evening. The second robbery occurred Sunday night at the Rt 110 Convenience Store on Merrimack Street in Methuen.

MVB
“He was brandishing a weapon, a firearm, as he has in the other robberies.” Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon told The Valley Patriot in an exclusive interview.

“This being the second armed robbery today, the suspect is becoming more aggressive and bold as the robberies continue,” Solomon said.

“We urge the public to be vigilant and keep an eye out for any suspicious activity they see. If anyone is seen outside of a business or a bank wearing a mask or covering their face please call 911 immediately. We ask that the public use an abundance of caution and DO NOT approach the suspect. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.”

Solomon urged the public to use social media like the MPD blog on Facebook for detailed information

Facebook @Methuenpolice, Blogspot @MPDBlotter

As The Valley Patriot exclusively reported last week, a task force of Massachusetts law enforcement agencies is seeking the public’s assistance to identify a bank robber responsible for multiple armed bank robberies in northeastern Massachusetts since February. The robbery count attributed tot he Merrimack Valley Bandit is now 9!

HASKMY-robberDuring 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 athttps://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.

Suspect in Lawrence bank robbery. Photo from Lawrence Police. April 3, 2013
Suspect in Lawrence bank robbery. Photo from Lawrence Police. April 3, 2013

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

· 04/13/2013 TD Bank North shortly before 8p, – Dracut MA

· 04/14/2013 at approximately 9:45pm, Rt. 110 Convenience Store, Merrimack St., Methuen MA

 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.

 

Merrimack Valley Bandit