FBI investigating possible bank robbery ring

(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - One bank robbery on Wednesday in Burlington could turn out to be a hit by a major organized crime crew.

The FBI violent crimes task force has been chasing a group of organized bank robbers for nearly a month now. Since Dec. 15 they've hit banks Lynnfield, Reading, Malden, Westford, Salem, Westford and, most recently, Burlington.

At first authorities thought they were dealing with a single bank robber, but now they believe this is bank robbery ring - one that is considered armed and dangerous.

Surveillance from the latest bank robbery Wednesday morning at about 9:30 a.m. at the Central Bank on Wilmington Road clearly shows a black man wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with the hood up walking into the bank, passing a demand note threatening he had a gun and then walking out.

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE ROBBERIES HERE

Sources tell Fox 25’s Bob Ward the man in the Burlington robbery is the same man who walked into the East Boston Savings Bank in Saugus the day before. He's the wearing the same clothes, only the hood is down.

He didn't rob the Saugus bank. In fact he did no business there at all, but witnesses say he was acting nervously when he was inside the bank.

This bank robbery spree started on Dec. 15. Three banks were hit in 24 hours. One of them was the Citizens Bank in Malden. After robbing that bank, the suspect got stuck in a glassed in area. He pulled out his gun and fired it five times.

Police no longer think we're seeing the same person in all of the surveillance photos. Rather, they think this is a bank robbery ring and that these people are working together.

Since Malden they've gone on to hit banks in Salem, Westford and now Burlington.

If any of the people caught on surveillance look familiar, you should know there is a major reward being offered. The FBI and the Massachusetts Bankers Association have put up a $15,000 reward.

http://boston.fbi.gov or call (617) 742-5533

TIMELINE:

12/15/2010
-Lynnfield
The Savings Bank 1105 Summer St.

-Reading
TD Bank 470 Main Street
3:10 p.m.

12/16/2010
-Malden
Citizens Bank 876 Main St.
12:50 p.m.

12/29/2010
-Westford
Eastern Bank
Littleton Rd (Rte 110)

1/3/2011
-Salem, Mass.
TD Bank Loring Avenue

1/4/2011
-Saugus
East Boston Savings Bank
317 Main Street
NOT A ROBBERY, BUT SUSPECT ACTING SUSPICIOUS.

1/5/2011
-Burlington
Central Bank 85 Wilmington Road
9:30 a.m.