Crime & Safety
Malden Man Indicted For Middlesex County Bank Robbery Spree
The following information is provided by the Middlesex County District Attorney. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.
A Malden man was indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury on Monday in connection with several bank robberies across Middlesex County, including one in Tewksbury and one in Wilmington.
John Freni, 28, of 33 Broadway St. in Malden, was indicted on five counts of unarmed robbery and five counts of intimidation to steal from a bank, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.
On Sept. 23, Freni allegedly entered the Eastern Bank at 370 Main St. in Wilmington, showed the teller a note demanding money and left the bank with $3800.
On Oct. 1, Freni allegedly entered the Eastern Bank at 1800 Main St. in Tewksbury, showed the teller a note demanding money and left the bank with over $3200.
Freni also allegedly robbed a TD Bank in Billerica, TD Bank in Dracut and an Eastern Bank in Everett, with all the robberies occurring in September and October.
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According to authorities, investigations into several bank robberies in neighboring Middlesex County towns allegedly revealed that the defendant, exhibiting a similar pattern of conduct and wearing similar clothing and accessories, was the person responsible.
An investigation revealed that the suspect in Tewksbury’s bank robbery matched the description of a suspect wanted in connection with similar robberies in Billerica, Wilmington and Dracut.
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A cooperative law enforcement investigation involving detectives from Tewksbury Police Department and from the three other victim communities identified key evidence which led to the arrest warrant being issued by Lowell District Court.
Freni was located Oct. 7 by the Everett Police Department after he allegedly committed the robbery at the Eastern Bank located at 738 Broadway in Everett.
Tewksbury Police Department assisted Everett Police with the arrest of Freni who was taken to Everett Police Station where he was held without bail.
Stick with Tewksbury Patch for more on this story as it becomes available.
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