Framingham Police Department: Crime around our police station

Note address links in articles. These robberies are occuring right next to the Framingham police station. .
There are no police walking downtown so the criminals apparently feel safe.
The first robbery at the Sovereign Bank is a perfect example of how the police should pay attention to their surroundings.
Police chief Steven Carl's second story office window overlooks the Sovereign bank,
Chances are that you'll get better police protection around our many Dunkin Donut shops than around the police station.

Man mugged across from police station Friday, Jul 06, 2007

Norman Miller 508-626-3823 Metrowest Daily News

FRAMINGHAM - A person being mugged in downtown is not unusual, but police say the site of a Thursday night mugging was directly across from the police station.
A 59-year-old Framingham man was mugged and his wallet was stolen after he withdrew money from the Sovereign Bank on 110 Union Avenue, Framingham 01702 at 11:45 p.m., Deputy Police Chief Craig Davis said.
The bank is across from the Framingham Police Station.
"It was on the Franklin Street side so it was kind of obscured, but it was a little brazen," Davis said.
The victim had just gone to the ATM at the bank when a man came up behind him and demanded his money.
Before the victim, who police did not name, could react, the man who had pulled up his shirt to obscure his face, grabbed the older man's wallet and ran away, Davis said.
The suspect ran through the parking lot and toward downtown. The victim recovered his wallet behind a nearby restaurant.
"Everything was in it, except for the money," Davis said.
Police did not release the amount of money stolen.
The victim crossed the street and reported the robbery. He described the mugger as a white male in his late teens or early 20s, 5-feet 5-inches to 5-feet 7-inches tall with a stocky build, short brown hair and no visible tattoos or piercings.
It is not known what led to the robbery.
"We don't know if he was just waiting there for the victim, or if it was a crime of opportunity, or if he was stalking this particular victim," said Davis. "Any one of those theories could play out."
The robbery is a perfect example of how people should pay attention to their surroundings, Davis said. The victim told police he saw a man before he went into the ATM, but did not think anything of it.
But, he said, people should not go overboard searching for potential thieves.
"You don't want to make everyone suspicious of everyone," said Davis. "You don't want people coming out of the bank, looking for the robber behind every corner. You don't want to go through life like that, but you want to be aware of your surroundings, but you don't want to be paralyzed by your fears."

Man mugged across from police station	Friday, Jul 06, 2007
Norman Miller 508-626-3823	Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM - A person being mugged in downtown is not unusual, but police say the site of a Thursday night mugging was directly across from the police station. A 59-year-old Framingham man was mugged and his wallet was stolen after he withdrew money from the Sovereign Bank on 110 Union Avenue, Framingham 01702 at 11:45 p.m., Deputy Police Chief Craig Davis said. The bank is across from the Framingham Police Station. "It was on the Franklin Street side so it was kind of obscured, but it was a little brazen," Davis said. The victim had just gone to the ATM at the bank when a man came up behind him and demanded his money. Before the victim, who police did not name, could react, the man who had pulled up his shirt to obscure his face, grabbed the older man's wallet and ran away, Davis said. The suspect ran through the parking lot and toward downtown. The victim recovered his wallet behind a nearby restaurant. "Everything was in it, except for the money," Davis said. Police did not release the amount of money stolen. The victim crossed the street and reported the robbery. He described the mugger as a white male in his late teens or early 20s, 5-feet 5-inches to 5-feet 7-inches tall with a stocky build, short brown hair and no visible tattoos or piercings. It is not known what led to the robbery. "We don't know if he was just waiting there for the victim, or if it was a crime of opportunity, or if he was stalking this particular victim," said Davis. "Any one of those theories could play out." The robbery is a perfect example of how people should pay attention to their surroundings, Davis said. The victim told police he saw a man before he went into the ATM, but did not think anything of it. But, he said, people should not go overboard searching for potential thieves. "You don't want to make everyone suspicious of everyone," said Davis. "You don't want people coming out of the bank, looking for the robber behind every corner. You don't want to go through life like that, but you want to be aware of your surroundings, but you don't want to be paralyzed by your fears."

Police seek suspects who tied up clerk, robbed store Sunday, September 23, 2007

Danielle Ameden 508-634-7521 Metrowest Daily News

Framingham - Police are asking for the public's help locating two men who allegedly tied up a Frederick Street clerk with duct tape Saturday morning and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The men went into Instant Checks Cashed at 2 Frederick St., Framingham 01702 around 10:30 a.m., taped up the clerk's hands and shut her in a bathroom before robbing the register, police spokesman Lt. Paul Shastany said.
"We're confident somebody may have seen something and can help solve this," he said. "We encourage tips. Anyone with information should please call us."
Officers were called to the shop at 11 a.m. to find the clerk in distress.
"The story was reported to us that someone had used a ruse to move her out of her shop, saying a car tire was slashed or low or flat," Shastany said.
The men, who were unarmed, were trying to determine whether there was anyone else in the shop and pounced when they realized she was alone, the lieutenant said.
"The two subjects taped her hands up, put her into the bathroom, shut her in," Shastany said. "She was in fear and upset after this."
Both suspects were described as black men, about 6 feet fall and in their mid-30s. One wore a sky-blue athletic suit and spoke in a Jamaican accent, while the other wore a purple and white athletic suit, Shastany said.
He said a lesson came out of the incident for people who come into situations similar to the clerk's.
"Contact the police," Shastany said. "Don't let somebody draw you into a position where you're vulnerable. Call us - the Police Department is very happy to check out anything that's disconcerting to people. That's what we're paid to do."
Anyone with tips about Saturday's crime is asked to contact Detective Greg Reardon at 508-620-4923.

Police seek suspects who tied up clerk, robbed store	Sunday, September 23, 2007
Danielle Ameden 508-634-7521	Metrowest Daily News
Framingham - Police are asking for the public's help locating two men who allegedly tied up a Frederick Street clerk with duct tape Saturday morning and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. The men went into Instant Checks Cashed at 2 Frederick St., Framingham 01702 around 10:30 a.m., taped up the clerk's hands and shut her in a bathroom before robbing the register, police spokesman Lt. Paul Shastany said. "We're confident somebody may have seen something and can help solve this," he said. "We encourage tips. Anyone with information should please call us." Officers were called to the shop at 11 a.m. to find the clerk in distress. "The story was reported to us that someone had used a ruse to move her out of her shop, saying a car tire was slashed or low or flat," Shastany said. The men, who were unarmed, were trying to determine whether there was anyone else in the shop and pounced when they realized she was alone, the lieutenant said. "The two subjects taped her hands up, put her into the bathroom, shut her in," Shastany said. "She was in fear and upset after this." Both suspects were described as black men, about 6 feet fall and in their mid-30s. One wore a sky-blue athletic suit and spoke in a Jamaican accent, while the other wore a purple and white athletic suit, Shastany said. He said a lesson came out of the incident for people who come into situations similar to the clerk's. "Contact the police," Shastany said. "Don't let somebody draw you into a position where you're vulnerable. Call us - the Police Department is very happy to check out anything that's disconcerting to people. That's what we're paid to do." Anyone with tips about Saturday's crime is asked to contact Detective Greg Reardon at 508-620-4923.

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