East Bridgewater Savings Bank Robbery

East Bridgewater, Mass  -  East Bridgewater Savings Bank employees on Route 18 in the East Bridgewater Center were shocked by the demands of a  5 foot ten, 175 pound man who entered the building right before 10:00 am on Monday, October 27th.  Employees quickly notified police but were forced to hand over money when he gave them a note and threatened to set off a bomb.  A suspicious package was left inside the bank. The shopping bag held a box prompting the bomb squad to send in the robot to investigate the legitimacy of the robber’s claim that he had a bomb inside the shopping bag.  For at least two hours the East Bridgewater schools were in safe mode and Police worried that the robber’s threats were true until an analysis of the package confirmed that it was just a hoax.  He did get away with an undisclosed amount of cash from the bank tellers, unfortunately.  The Senior Bank Teller said, “We’re O.K., it’s all right.”  She and the Branch Manager were leaving the bank at the close of the business day around 3 p.m. and assured reporters that everyone was calm as they hurried to their vehicles.  Police have started an intercity investigation according to Chief John Cowan who reported to the Selectman last evening.  Cowan said, “My detectives are working on this case as we speak and we are optimistic that we will apprehend the suspect.”  Television news reporters gathered outside the bank for several hours to keep people informed during this breaking news. Helicopters hovered overhead while experienced Police like Officer Douglas Carey worked their job flawlessly.  Fire personnel, DPW employees and FBI Special Agents were nearly the only people gathered in the center of town while this breaking news evolved.  They waited patiently as the Bomb squad investigated what turned out to be an empty package and just a new approach to a bank robbery.  The robot that was used during this investigation worked fast and placed everyone at a minimum risk.  The East Bridgewater police department has received several Homeland Security grants in which to upscale their town’s technology and it showed during this robbery and attempted bomb threat to the East Bridgewater Savings Bank.   Rosie Stein