Police arrested a 49-year-old Abington man yesterday on charges that he robbed the same Bridgewater bank twice, once while wearing an Abraham Lincoln mask.
Johnny Gamble of Linwood Street was charged with robbing the Mayflower Bank on Scotland Boulevard in Bridgewater yesterday morning, wearing the familiar likeness just three days after Presidents' Day. Lieutenant Christopher Delmonte of the Bridgewater Police Department said Gamble allegedly handed the teller an expletive-laden note, offered her a black bag, told her to put money into it, and threatened to shoot her if she did not.
Police said they believed it was the second time Gamble had robbed the bank. On Feb. 6, a robber had approached a teller at the bank and made a similar demand. That time the robber was wearing a black cap but not an Old Abe mask, Delmonte said, and got $6,000 in cash.
After yesterday's robbery, shortly before 8:30 a.m., a bank manager sounded a security alarm notifying police. When officers arrived, an employee who watched the robber flee described the getaway car as a 2008 Nissan.
Police issued a radio alert for the car, which was spotted minutes later by a Raynham officer on patrol near the town line. The Raynham officer pulled the car over, but before he walked up to it the Nissan sped off. The officer then chased the car but lost it. State Police assisting in the search found the Nissan 20 minutes later in a supermarket parking lot in Easton.
Delmonte said the trooper saw Gamble throw a black bag under the car as he approached. Police said it contained the Lincoln mask, a black pellet gun, and $5,800 in cash.
In a separate development yesterday, the FBI released photos of a female bank robber in Chelsea. Believed to be in her mid-30s to early 40s, she is suspected of having robbed a TD Banknorth branch on Feb. 15 and Metro Credit Union on Feb. 15 and Feb. 20. Witnesses said the woman was described as "stinking of alcohol" in the TD Banknorth robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 617-742-5533.
