Reading man suspected of Savings Bank robbery
Published on June 25th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - An alleged Reading drug-addict who seems to have habitually preyed on local coffee and donut lovers is being eyed for the May 28 Stoneham Savings Bank Main Street branch office robbery.
Gregory Stratton, a 24 year-old Reading native, was arrested during the early morning hours of Friday, June 20, in Allston by members of the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Task Force on a robbery warrant, according to Reading police officials.
Stoneham Police investigators believe that Stratton is a "strong suspect in the Stoneham Savings Bank robbery."
During that robbery, a white male in his twenties with a baseball cap and tightly-pulled hood shrouding his face, brazenly walked into the bank office and passed a note asking for cash.
The suspect, with an undisclosed amount of the bank's cash, fled the scene in a car he had, moments earlier, stolen from a HoneyDew Donuts in Wakefield. The suspect then dumped the stolen vehicle in a Main Street parking lot, and eluded Stoneham authorities.
Stoneham Police officials believe that the circumstances and description seem to be a fit with the Reading suspect.
"There aren't formal charges yet, but I'd say that we're waiting for information to develop further," said Stoneham Police Lt. Rick McCarthy, who added that the M.O. for the afternoon robbery and the Stoneham Savings Bank surveillance photo were weighing heavily in the investigation.
The arrest stemmed from a June 12 armed robbery of a Sovereign Bank in Saugus, and a subsequent arrest warrant by the Saugus Police Department.
Two weeks ago, Reading Police had also issued a warrant for Stratton's arrest after a June 12 Reading car-jacking and armed robbery.
According to Reading Police reports, Stratton is alleged to have threatened and stabbed a woman with a knife at a Reading Dunkin' Donuts before reportedly taking her car keys and driving off in her Toyota Corrolla.
Stratton faces charges in Reading for armed robbery, car-jacking, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (knife) and larceny of a motor vehicle.
According to published reports, Stratton may be linked to similar bank heists in Wakefield, Woburn, Lynnfield, Beverly, Burlington, Stoneham, Medford, and Saugus over the past five weeks.
Stratton was arraigned at Lynn District Court and at Woburn District Court last Friday for dual robbery charges in Saugus and Reading, and is being held on $100,000 cash bail.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!