MANCHESTER, NH – A Manchester man wanted in connection with an Aug. 18 armed robbery at Citizen’s Bank in Salem, and an Aug. 22 bank robbery in Bedford, Mass., was arrested Aug. 24 following a stand-off with police in South Boston.
Stephen Gingras, 39, of Manchester, was wanted on robbery charges stemming from an incident last week during which he allegedly entered a Shaw’s supermarket in Salem and demanded money from a teller at the in-store bank. Gingras was in possession of a high-powered rifle at the time of the robbery.
On Aug. 22 a robber, alleged by police to be Gingras, robbed a Citizen’s Bank in inside a supermarket in Bedford, Mass.
On Aug. 24 Bedford, Mass., Police Detectives, working in conjunction with the Boston Police Department Detectives, SWAT Team, Special Operations Unit, as well as the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force, tracked Gingras to a residence on Orton-Morotta Way in South Boston, where he was arrested at 2:41 a.m.
When the SWAT team arrived, Gingras initially attempted to jump out of a second-story window before barricading himself inside the residence, according to a police narrative of the arrest.
After several hours Gingras was taken into custody when SWAT members stormed the residence. A loaded rifle and magazine were recovered from the residence, police said.
Gingras was also wanted on a robbery warrant out of Concord Massachusetts District Court, as well as the two bank robberies.
Charges include:
• Unarmed Robbery
• Larceny over $250
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
• Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
• Being a Fugitive from Justice
Bedford, Mass., Police Chief Robert Bongiorno praised the swift and aggressive work of detectives working with Boston Police to arrest Gingras in less than 36 hours after the Monday robbery.
“Violent crime and robberies are not common in Bedford, but when they occur, the men and women of the Bedford Police Department are well-prepared,” Bongiorno said. “In capturing this suspect quickly we have sent a message, and I am very proud of the work of our officers and our partners in the Boston Police Department.”
Following arraignment Aug. 24 on guns and ammunition charges, Gingras will face extradition to New Hampshire.
