A teenage boy, just 15-years-old, stands accused of a string of armed robberies in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, after police made an arrest on Friday. Following up on three recent armed robbery incidents, detectives from District B-3 zeroed in on the juvenile suspect, using video surveillance as a key tool in their investigation.
According to an official statement on the Boston Police Department's website, detectives were canvassing the area around Harvard Avenue when they spotted an individual matching the suspect's description. The police took action immediately, stopping the unarmed cruiser in front of a convenience store where the suspect had just entered, and apprehending him inside.
Police say that following the arrest inside the store, located at 140 Harvard Avenue, they recovered a replica firearm and clothing that matched the description from the surveillance footage. The investigation linked the young male to the series of crimes, leading to his arrest and charges of delinquent to wit; armed robbery (while masked). The suspect is set to face the charges in Boston Juvenile Court.
The separate incidents that led to the teenager's arrest included a robbery at 766 Blue Hill Avenue on Tuesday, where the suspect allegedly stole all money from a cash register alongside various marijuana products, and fled towards Abbott Street. Another robbery occurred the next day at 844 Blue Hill Avenue, with the suspect again taking cash and marijuana products and fleeing towards Vesta Road. The most recent incident before the arrest took place at 124 Harvard Street, where approximately $200-$400 in US currency was reported stolen.
Mattapan detectives' persistent efforts, aided by video evidence, brought a swift conclusion to a frightening spree that had gripped area residents. The intervention before another crime could occur underscores the role of vigilance in keeping communities safe from the scourge of such young perpetrators turned criminals.
