Wayne County businesses recently experienced a string of robberies with a Halloween twist. A man identified as Brendan Bonner, 33, from Westland, donned skeleton and clown masks to disguise his identity while committing armed robberies at three different locations. According to ClickOnDetroit, Bonner robbed Intimate Ideas, a McDonald’s, and a Shell gas station, all within hours of each other on October 27.
The first incident occurred at Intimate Ideas, a Westland business, where the perpetrator wore a partial skeleton mask and forced the clerk to relinquish approximately $422 from the cash register. Hours later, in an attempted robbery at a local McDonald's, Bonner, now obscured by a clown mask and green jacket, was unable to obtain any cash as the register remained closed. A statement obtained by FOX 2 Detroit detailed how employees exited the store, leaving him empty-handed. His robbery streak continued shortly after at a Garden City Shell gas station, with the suspect using the same clown mask to threaten an clerk and obtain over $1,000, complementing his command with a "thank you."
Bonner's crime spree came to an end when Garden City police, on routine patrol, found him seated in a car near the most recent robbery site. As Modus reports, the police found various incriminating items in Bonner's possession: a clown mask, latex gloves, and a polymer P80 semiautomatic handgun. Adding to the evidence, police discovered money wrapped in a rubber band in his pocket.
Further investigation led the police to Bonner’s apartment, where they uncovered a partial skeleton mask and attire matching the description of the clothing worn during the Intimate Ideas robbery. An individual residing in the apartment recounted to authorities how Bonner had spoken of committing a robbery, and noted his meticulous cleaning of the stolen money to remove fingerprints. This co-resident also mentioned that Bonner eschewed bringing his phone during his criminal outings, fearing the potential for tracking. In an interview, Bonner confessed to his involvement in the robberies. He faces charges of interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence, underlining a peculiar case where criminal intent masqueraded behind the facade of holiday revelry.
