Update on Mon. 12/23/13: Two suspects have been arrested by Boston Police. Read more.
We started to get reports on Saturday about a string of convenience store robberies. On Sunday, Boston Police issued a Community Alert with a list of multiple robberies at convenience stores and coffee shops in the North End / Waterfront and Downtown Boston area. There are two male suspects, one white and the other black, that are working together. In some cases, the suspects indicate they are armed.
Locations hit on Saturday and Sunday, December 21st and 22nd include:
- 4:01 pm Sat., 38 Cooper Street (Venice Convenience Store)
- 7:31 pm Sat., 70 East India Row (7-Eleven)
- 7:58 pm Sat., 170 Salem Street (Salem Street Market)
- 2:59 am Sun., 103 State Street (7-Eleven)
- 7:22 am, Sun., 2 Atlantic Avenue (Starbucks)
- 2:57 pm, Sun., 149 Hanover Street (Adams Convenience)
The BPD alert is shown below with details regarding each incident and descriptions of the suspects, shown in these photos from store and street cameras.
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Community Alert: BPD Releases Images of Individuals Wanted in Connection with Commercial Robberies in Downtown
The Boston Police Department is issuing a Community Alert following multiple incidents of Commercial Robberies in the Downtown area. The incident descriptions are as follows:
At about 4:01 PM, Saturday, December 21, 2013 officers from District A-1 (Downtown) responded to a radio call for a Robbery in Progress in the area of 38 Cooper Street (Venice Convenience Store) in the Downtown area. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated he had been robbed of both products and U.S. Currency. The suspect is described as a white male, in his early twenties, approximately 5’5” tall, short black hair, clean shaven, wearing a blue Adidas baseball cap, a black hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants. The suspect was not armed. The suspect fled on foot.
At about 7:31 PM, Saturday, December 21, 2013 officers from District A-1 (Downtown) responded to a radio call for an Armed Robbery in Progress in the area of 70 East India Row (7-11 Store) in the Downtown area. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated a male suspect had attempted to rob his business. The suspect is described as a white male, in his early twenties, approximately 5’8” tall, 180 lbs, wearing a black winter cap, and a white sweater. The suspect motioned that he had been armed. Witnesses stated that an additional suspect described as a black male wearing a blue winter cap, blue coat and blue jeans was present outside of the business. The suspects fled on foot.
At about 2:59 AM, Sunday, December 22, 2013, officers from District A-1 (Downtown) responded to a radio call for an Armed Robbery in the area of 103 State Street (7-11 Store) in the Downtown area. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated that he had been robbed of U.S. Currency by two white male suspects. The first suspect is described as a white male, in his mid-twenties, approximately 5’7” tall, wearing a black jacket and a red t-shirt. The second suspect is described as a light skinned black male in his mid-twenties.
At about 7:22 AM, Sunday, December 22, 2013, officers from District A-1 (Downtown) responded to a radio call for a Robbery in Progress in the area of 2 Atlantic Avenue (Starbucks) in the Downtown area. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated that she had been robbed of U.S. Currency. The suspect is described as a white male, in his early thirties, approximately 5’9” tall, 180lbs. slicked back black hair, wearing a dark gray double breasted pea coat. The suspect was not armed. The suspect fled on foot. Witnesses stated that an additional suspect described as a light skinned black male, in his mid-thirties, approximately 5’6”, 160 lbs., wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a zipper, was also present. The suspects fled on foot.
Detectives are also investigating an incident in the area of 170 Salem St. The incident is described as follows: At about 7:58 PM, Saturday, December 21, 2013 officers from District A-1 (Downtown) responded to a radio call for a Panic Alarm in the area of 170 Salem Street (Salem Market) in the Downtown area. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated that he had been robbed of U.S. Currency. The suspect is described as a black male, in his mid-thirties, approximately 5’8” tall, 170 lbs, wearing a black winter cap with multi-colored dark and white stripes, dark pants and white sneakers. The suspect motioned that he had been armed. Witnesses stated that an additional suspect described as a white male was present outside of the business. The suspects fled on foot.
Detectives from District A-1 (Downtown) are investigating a recent incident in connection with the previous commercial robberies in the Downtown Area. The circumstances to the recent incident are as follows: At about 3:04 pm, Sunday, December 22, 2013, officers from District A-1 (Downtown) received a radio call for a report of an armed robbery in progress at 149 Hanover Street (Adams Convenience). Upon arrival officers spoke with a victim who stated, at approximately 2:57 pm two suspects, one described as a white male 20- 25 years of age and a black male 28-32 years of age entered the store, the white male with a broken glass bottle in his hand demanded all the cash from the register. The store clerk handed over an undetermined amount of US Currency and the suspects fled the store on foot toward Marshall Street, in the direction of Faneuil Hall.
The Boston Police Department is actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding these incidents. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Detectives at District A-1 (Downtown) at 617-343-4248. Community members who wish to remain anonymous should either call the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS (8477) or text the word TIP to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently protect the identity of those who wish to remain anonymous.
Ed: Please see this follow up article with information after the arrests and arraignment:
North End Man and Homeless Co-Defendent Arraigned in Court Following Weekend Robbery Spree
I just sent an email to Sgt. Lema and Officer Boyle, asking for any updates they may be able to provide on the investigation (moving forward).
-David Marx-
NEWNC Public Safety Chairman
If no gun has been shown, then anyone witnessing this needs to tackle this idiot and call the police. It’s obvious that they’re targetting what they think are soft targets. Fight back if given the opportunity!!
You want somebody to put their life in danger to stop these people? What if they have a gun under their shirt or a knife? We have a police force for a reason. Trying to stop a crime like that is plain stupid and would advise people to do the opposite of what your saying
Brilliant idea so when some one tackles the suspects because they don’t show a gun, and they proceed to get shot by the hidden firearm we can all thank you
Thank God for cameras!
These robbers are probably crackheads who are desperate ,dangerous & not too bright but suggesting fighting back is not good advice.Thanks to surveillance cameras from the store & from the the freedom trail [which I have been supporting for months] its not going to be long before these two are taken off the streets.
It certainly was nice of these guys to pose so well for the cameras. They should be in the slammer by Christmas. Did you know that in some countries the penalty for shoplifting and robbing stores is marriage?
There is a camera that reveals who did the robbery of the Prince Street Retail store and the Police
have not given us any info. as to whether the landlord turned over the film from the camera.