By Layla Burke Hastings and Jordan J. Phelan
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Area authorities on both sides of the Connecticut River are continuing to investigate a series of crimes that occurred over the course of five days, including three robberies spanning two Vermont towns, according to police.
The Springfield Police Department and Vermont State Police are looking to identify what appears to be the same individual who is connected to three armed robberies — one in Westminster and two in Springfield — that took place between Thursday, Jan. 6, and Monday, Jan. 10.
Around 3:39 a.m. Thursday morning, Springfield officers responded to the Circle K on Missing Link Road for a report of a robbery. The man, who was dressed in a black Adidas hooded sweatshirt and white sneakers, entered the store and reportedly displayed a weapon. He then allegedly fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash and products before leaving the scene entirely in a dark colored sedan, according to a news release from the Springfield Police Department.
There were no injuries reported.
Later that same day, law enforcement personnel responded to a similar call, this time at Allen Brothers Farm Market Store on U.S. Route 5 in Westminster.
The man, who was dressed in the same attire as the suspect in the Springfield robbery, entered the store around 6:54 p.m., drew a handgun and demanded cash from the store clerk. The man then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one inside the store — a staple of the local community since 1956 — at the time of the crime was injured, according to a news release from Vermont State Police.
Police described the suspect as a white man, roughly 5-foot-8, and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds.
The most recent armed robbery occurred on Monday when a man, who was again dressed in the same attire, entered the People’s United Bank on Main Street in Springfield at approximately 4:30 p.m. He proceeded to approach a bank teller and demanded that $50 and $100 bills be placed in a child’s pencil case before showing them a semiautomatic black pistol. The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of cash before leaving the area on foot, according to the Springfield Police Department.
The Springfield Police Department added that the suspect is believed to have dark hair.
In each case the authorities were able to review security camera footage to attain images as well as estimated height and weight information.
Police urge anyone with information on the Allen Brothers robbery to call the Westminster Barracks of Vermont State Police at 802-722-4600 and ask to speak with Detective Trooper Kelsey Knapp. If you wish to submit a tip anonymously, visit vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
Anyone with information about the Circle K or People’s United Bank incidents is asked to call the Springfield Police Department at 802-885-2113 and speak with Officer Jeremy Fitzgibbons or Lt. Patrick Call.
Authorities are also investigating a stolen U-Haul that was involved in an attempted robbery of an ATM machine in Walpole.
On the morning of Saturday, Jan. 8, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a U-Haul truck was stolen from the parking lot of Judds Power Equipment at 6109 RT 5 in Westminster. Less than an hour later, the same truck was used on the New Hampshire side of the river in an attempt to steal an ATM machine from the Mascoma Bank branch located in Walpole. The vehicle was later found abandoned.
The ATM had been removed from its footings and placed on the back of a U-Haul truck, according to Mascoma Bank Chief Marketing Officer and Benefit Officer Samantha Pause.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Vermont State Police in Westminster and reference Case No. 22B1000127.
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