Would-be robber in Andover brandishes a syringe

By Jillian Jorgensen, Globe Correspondent

Andover police are searching for a man who tried to rob a hotel early Sunday morning by brandishing a syringe filled with what he said was the AIDS virus.

The man came into the foyer of the Courtyard Marriott on Campanelli Drive at around 1 a.m. Sunday, talking on his cellphone. He then went outside for about 10 to 15 minutes before coming back inside to ask about room rates, Andover Police Lieutenant Arthur Ricci said.

After the night manager told the man the rates, he took out a hypodermic syringe filled with a red liquid. He told the manager it was full of AIDS and said he was desperate and needed money, Ricci said.

The manager picked up a pen to protect himself, and the man jumped onto the counter. The manager told the would-be thief that he was on camera and that he would stab him with the pen, Ricci said.

That scared off the suspect, who fled without taking any money.

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