Local police searching for chunky bank robber
Published on February 20th, 2008
READING, MA - Reading police are actively looking for a man who robbed the Sovereign Bank branch at 228 Main Street in Reading late yesterday afternoon.
According to police reports, a man witnesses described as being heavyset and wearing a blue jacket (no estimated height or weight was given by bank employees) entered the bank branch at 10:49 a.m. and passed a note to a teller, stating that he had a weapon and demanding money.
The teller handed over a undetermined amount of money to the individual, who then exited the bank and entered a grey vehicle, license plate 9673LB, which headed south on Main Street towards Stoneham.
Police quickly descended on the branch location, and the Boston branch of the FBI's Bank Robbery Task Force was notified.
The getaway vehicle was found a short time later in the parking lot outside Harrows Restaurant, on Main Street near the Stoneham border, and Reading police and a K9 unit from Wilmington went over the car looking for evidence.
The vehicle, which was registered to a woman from Medford, was later reported stolen by its owner from the Wellington Circle MBTA?station. The car was towed to Reading police headquarters, where state police investigators were expected to go through it today looking for further evidence.
Reading Lieutenant Detective Dick Robbins said today that he hoped that anyone viewing the surveillance footage of the suspect who feels they may know his identity would call the Reading police at 781-944-1212 and assist them with tracking this individual down.
"You always hope someone will recognize these individuals," said Robbins.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and someone will come forward, but in the meantime we are actively pursuing this case."
Boston police were busy yesterday looking for a bandit with red dye on his hands who they say robbed a bank on School Street.
Yesterday's robbery in Reading is part of a surge in bank holdups, with 30 reported in the Boston area in January alone and another six in surrounding communities. On a single day, Jan. 22, four Boston banks were hit by robbers.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!