Stoneham robberies linked to spree
Published on January 27th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Police are linking two Stoneham robberies to a spree that is believed to have hit stores in five towns in recent weeks.
Most recently, on Wednesday morning at about 8 am, Anton's Cleaners on North Avenue in Wakefield was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash when a suspect entered the store wearing a black hooded jacket and tan pants. The man passed a note to the employee on duty which in which he demanded money and claimed to be armed.
On Tuesday afternoon, at about 2:30 pm, police believe the same perpetrator held up the Dress barn located in Redstone Shopping Center. Witnesses say that the suspect was wearing a blue hooded jacket with two stripes on the sleeves and dungarees. The hood, the victim explained, was pulled tight around the suspect's face, with only the eyes and mouth in view.
"He's trying hard not to give people a good look at him," SPD Lieutenant Gregory O'Keefe told the Independent.
The suspect again passed a note claiming he had a gun in his pocket and demanding money, and, again, he made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Witnesses say that the suspect fled the shopping center in a light colored sedan with damage to its passenger side which had been parked approximately four rows down from the store.
Last Monday, a similar incident was reported to Stoneham police. At 8:01 pm, police got a call from West Coast Video in the Redstone Shopping Center reporting a robbery. Officers responded to the scene and spoke to the employee on duty who gave a similar description of the suspect.
According to Lieutenant O'Keefe of the SPD, the suspect is believed to be in his late teens or early twenties, 5'10" to 5'11" with a thin build (130 to 140 pounds). He is also described as having a noticeable amount of acne.
"I wouldn't be surprised if this kid were in school," O'Keefe said of the perpetrator, attributing this opinion to the time of the robberies - occurring around the hours of 8:30 am and 2 pm. "But he's sure getting around."
Other towns believed to have been hit by the suspect are Saugus, Melrose and Woburn. At the time of press, Woburn police had a suspect fitting the description in custody and were awaiting identification by victim's.
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