Boston woke up to a double dose of trouble Tuesday when two armed bank robberies hit Roxbury and Roslindale within hours of each other, sending police and federal agents scrambling to track a crew that seems to favor blue masks, blue gloves and a blue Toyota RAV4.
Both heists unfolded during busy morning hours, and while no one was reported hurt, the incidents rattled customers, workers and neighbors. Detectives are now working through surveillance images and vehicle descriptions as they hunt for the suspects.
A preliminary investigation found that two men walked into a Santander branch in Roxbury shortly after 10:11 a.m. and robbed tellers at gunpoint, then took off on foot toward Orchard Park, according to police. One suspect was described as light-skinned and about 5-foot-7, wearing a light-blue Nike Tech hoodie. The second wore a black Champion hoodie. Both reportedly had blue gloves and black face masks. Investigators believe the pair are tied to a blue Toyota RAV4 with Massachusetts plate 4MXN78, according to The Boston Globe.
Second Robbery in Roslindale Appears Linked
Less than two hours after the Roxbury holdup, officers were called to a TD Bank branch in Roslindale for another armed robbery. Police say two suspects went inside and demanded cash while a third suspect stayed in a waiting vehicle outside.
The crew then fled in what authorities say was that same blue RAV4, taking off along American Legion Highway toward Cummins Highway. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force has now joined Boston police in the investigation, according to WCVB.
Surveillance Images Show a Suspect With a Firearm
Investigators released surveillance stills that appear to show one of the suspects pointing a handgun at a teller during the Roxbury robbery. Those images, along with circulating video from inside the bank, were highlighted by NBC Boston, which also noted that no injuries were reported in either incident.
How to Help
Boston police are asking anyone with information to call District B-2 Detectives at (617) 343-4275. People who want to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 800-494-TIPS or text TIP to CRIME (27463), according to Patch.
Legal Note
Robbing a federally insured bank can trigger federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 2113, and using or brandishing a firearm during a robbery can lead to separate firearm counts under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), which carry mandatory minimum prison terms. Federal statute texts lay out those penalties and help explain why federal agents often assist local police in bank-robbery investigations, per federal code resources.
The Santander branch sits near Roxbury Prep and a cluster of small businesses in Nubian Square, and neighbors told reporters that the brazen daytime holdup left people shaken, according to The Boston Globe. Police say the search for the suspects remains active and are urging anyone with tips or video footage to contact detectives as the investigation continues.
