PUBLIC SAFETY NOTIFICATION: Armed Robbery PatternOverview: Between April 17th and July 6th, eighteen commercial robbery incidents have taken place and that could potentially be related. Investigators are looking into the possibility of one or maybe two black male suspects, who range in age from 30-40. In addition, various suspect heights have been reported ranging from 5’5” to 6’0”.
The suspects similarly described in appearance and motives have robbed eight businesses all at knifepoint. The suspect(s) has been known to order the clerk to the floor.
Eight incidents took place on District D-4 (Back Bay/South End), eight on District A-1 (Downtown), and one on District B-2 (Roxbury). All of the incidents have taken place between 2:30 AM and 7:10 PM.
Area detectives are actively investigating these incidents. Officers are making every effort to apprehend and locate this individual. Districts will also increase patrols in target areas.
Community members are urged to contact 911 to report any suspicious activity. The similarities in the incidents include: Ordered clerk to the floor; Robbed at knifepoint; Wearing baseball cap; Stole money from registers; Carrying a black bag; Displayed a firearm (four incidents) and displayed a shotgun (four incidents).
Most recent incident report received from the Boston University Police:
D4 – On 7/5/07 at approximately 5:30 Boston University officers were on patrol in the area of East Newton Street and Albany Street when they heard a radio broadcast from an BU safety officer who was posted at 700 Albany Street about a black male suspect wearing a gray polo shirt and jeans running on East Concord Street towards Harrison Avenue. It was reported that the suspect had robbed the City Convenience Store at 700 Albany Street. Officers searched the area with negative results.
Officers spoke to a witness who stated that an unknown black male wearing sunglasses, blue baseball hat, gray striped polo shirt, blue jeans and a black shoulder bag walked into the store and proceeded to the beverage cooler. The suspect then walked to the counter and placed water on the counter. The suspect then walked around the counter, ordered the clerk to the rear of the counter and began removing currency from the register. Boston Police also responded to the incident and believe that this suspect is the same individual wanted in connection with other similar armed robberies.
Similar Incident Descriptions:
Below are incidents that occurred in June. For a more complete list of incidents and surveillance photos please visit http://www.bpdnews.com.
D4 – On 06/06/2007 at 4:55 PM, the suspect walked into All Things Chocolate at 31 St. James Ave. The suspect approached the clerk and told her that this is a robbery, and made her stand away from the register. He then took the cash from the register hand, told the clerk to sit in the office and then fled. The suspect is described as a black male, 40 years of age, 5’6”, 150 lbs, with a slim build. The suspect never showed a weapon but held his side as if he had one.
D4 – On 06/16/2007 at 2:30 AM, There was a robbery at the Midtown Hotel on 220 Huntington Ave. The suspect walked into the lobby and pulled out a gun and forced the clerks into a back room. He then took cash from the cash register drawers. The suspect was a black male, and had a bandana on his face.
A1 – On 06/20/2007 at 6:45 PM, the suspect walked into the Sarni’s Cleaners at 175 Cambridge St and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun from his bag. He then ordered the employees to open the register and then lie on the floor. He then stole the cash and fled. The suspect is described as a black male, about 35 years of age, 5’6” with a thin build.
A1 – On 06/21/2007 at 6:13 PM, the store Papyrus at 107 Summer St. was robbed. The suspect came in and looked around at items, and then approached both clerks as they were behind the counter. He displayed a sawed off shotgun that was inside of a courier bag. He then demanded that they open the register and then turn around and face the wall. He took the cash from the register and then fled the store.
A1 – On 06/24/2007 at 12:50 PM, Yankee Candle store at Faneuil Hall was robbed. The suspect displayed what appeared to be a shotgun inside of a messenger bag. He told the clerks to open the register and then told them to lie down on the floor. He then stole cash and fled the scene.
D4 – On 06/24/2007 at 4:15 PM, the Tall Girl clothing store at 211 Berkeley St. was robbed. The suspect walked in wearing a grey bandana as a mask. He displayed what appeared to be a shotgun inside of a messenger bag. He told the clerks to open the register and then told them to lie down on the floor. He then stole cash and fled the scene.
A1 – On 06/26/2007 at 6:00 PM, the Copley Fair Gift Shop at 176 Federal St. was robbed. The suspect entered the store and showed a firearm. He ordered the employees to open the registers, and then sit on the floor of the backroom. He took the cash from the registers and fled. The suspect is described as a black male, 5’8”, slim build.
TIPS FROM THE BPD
WHAT TO DO DURING A ROBBERY:
To reduce the risk of injury, COMPLY WITH THE ROBBER’S DEMANDS. Make a mental note of as much descriptive information as possible.
What to look for:
· Facial Features
· Clothing & Jewelry
· Skin, Hair & Eye Color
· Age, Height, Weight, Sex
· Scars, Tattoos, Marks
· Speech, Accents
WHAT TO DO AFTER A ROBBERY
Do Not Chase the Robber!
Observe & Remember:
· Direction of travel
· License plate number
· Type & Color of vehicle
· Type of Weapon displayed
· Do not keep large amounts of money in the register
· Be aware of suspicious individuals loitering around your business
CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY

PUBLIC SAFETY NOTIFICATION: Armed Robbery PatternOverview: Between April 17th and July 6th, eighteen commercial robbery incidents have taken place and that could potentially be related. Investigators are looking into the possibility of one or maybe two black male suspects, who range in age from 30-40. In addition, various suspect heights have been reported ranging from 5’5” to 6’0”.
The suspects similarly described in appearance and motives have robbed eight businesses all at knifepoint. The suspect(s) has been known to order the clerk to the floor.
Eight incidents took place on District D-4 (Back Bay/South End), eight on District A-1 (Downtown), and one on District B-2 (Roxbury). All of the incidents have taken place between 2:30 AM and 7:10 PM.
Area detectives are actively investigating these incidents. Officers are making every effort to apprehend and locate this individual. Districts will also increase patrols in target areas.
Community members are urged to contact 911 to report any suspicious activity. The similarities in the incidents include: Ordered clerk to the floor; Robbed at knifepoint; Wearing baseball cap; Stole money from registers; Carrying a black bag; Displayed a firearm (four incidents) and displayed a shotgun (four incidents).
Most recent incident report received from the Boston University Police:
D4 – On 7/5/07 at approximately 5:30 Boston University officers were on patrol in the area of East Newton Street and Albany Street when they heard a radio broadcast from an BU safety officer who was posted at 700 Albany Street about a black male suspect wearing a gray polo shirt and jeans running on East Concord Street towards Harrison Avenue. It was reported that the suspect had robbed the City Convenience Store at 700 Albany Street. Officers searched the area with negative results.
Officers spoke to a witness who stated that an unknown black male wearing sunglasses, blue baseball hat, gray striped polo shirt, blue jeans and a black shoulder bag walked into the store and proceeded to the beverage cooler. The suspect then walked to the counter and placed water on the counter. The suspect then walked around the counter, ordered the clerk to the rear of the counter and began removing currency from the register. Boston Police also responded to the incident and believe that this suspect is the same individual wanted in connection with other similar armed robberies.
Similar Incident Descriptions:
Below are incidents that occurred in June. For a more complete list of incidents and surveillance photos please visit http://www.bpdnews.com.
D4 – On 06/06/2007 at 4:55 PM, the suspect walked into All Things Chocolate at 31 St. James Ave. The suspect approached the clerk and told her that this is a robbery, and made her stand away from the register. He then took the cash from the register hand, told the clerk to sit in the office and then fled. The suspect is described as a black male, 40 years of age, 5’6”, 150 lbs, with a slim build. The suspect never showed a weapon but held his side as if he had one.
D4 – On 06/16/2007 at 2:30 AM, There was a robbery at the Midtown Hotel on 220 Huntington Ave. The suspect walked into the lobby and pulled out a gun and forced the clerks into a back room. He then took cash from the cash register drawers. The suspect was a black male, and had a bandana on his face.
A1 – On 06/20/2007 at 6:45 PM, the suspect walked into the Sarni’s Cleaners at 175 Cambridge St and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun from his bag. He then ordered the employees to open the register and then lie on the floor. He then stole the cash and fled. The suspect is described as a black male, about 35 years of age, 5’6” with a thin build.
A1 – On 06/21/2007 at 6:13 PM, the store Papyrus at 107 Summer St. was robbed. The suspect came in and looked around at items, and then approached both clerks as they were behind the counter. He displayed a sawed off shotgun that was inside of a courier bag. He then demanded that they open the register and then turn around and face the wall. He took the cash from the register and then fled the store.
A1 – On 06/24/2007 at 12:50 PM, Yankee Candle store at Faneuil Hall was robbed. The suspect displayed what appeared to be a shotgun inside of a messenger bag. He told the clerks to open the register and then told them to lie down on the floor. He then stole cash and fled the scene.
D4 – On 06/24/2007 at 4:15 PM, the Tall Girl clothing store at 211 Berkeley St. was robbed. The suspect walked in wearing a grey bandana as a mask. He displayed what appeared to be a shotgun inside of a messenger bag. He told the clerks to open the register and then told them to lie down on the floor. He then stole cash and fled the scene.
A1 – On 06/26/2007 at 6:00 PM, the Copley Fair Gift Shop at 176 Federal St. was robbed. The suspect entered the store and showed a firearm. He ordered the employees to open the registers, and then sit on the floor of the backroom. He took the cash from the registers and fled. The suspect is described as a black male, 5’8”, slim build.
TIPS FROM THE BPD
WHAT TO DO DURING A ROBBERY:
To reduce the risk of injury, COMPLY WITH THE ROBBER’S DEMANDS. Make a mental note of as much descriptive information as possible.
What to look for:
· Facial Features
· Clothing & Jewelry
· Skin, Hair & Eye Color
· Age, Height, Weight, Sex
· Scars, Tattoos, Marks
· Speech, Accents
WHAT TO DO AFTER A ROBBERY
Do Not Chase the Robber!
Observe & Remember:
· Direction of travel
· License plate number
· Type & Color of vehicle
· Type of Weapon displayed
· Do not keep large amounts of money in the register
· Be aware of suspicious individuals loitering around your business
CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY