Serial Robber from Enfield Area Caught in Indiana

ENFIELD, CT — A local man suspected of committing at least 10 robberies of discount stores over the past six weeks was apprehended Tuesday in the restroom of an Indiana casino.

The serial robber, dubbed the “Dollar Store Grand-Pa Bandit” by police, was identified as David D. Hunter, 53. An email from Robert J. Durivage, chief of police in North Greenbush, N.Y., stated Hunter is "of the Enfield, CT area."

In total, the suspect had committed ten robberies at Dollar Tree stores and Dollar General stores across the nation, including most recent robberies in Pennsylvania and Connecticut over this past weekend. Following a robbery in Enfield, photos of the suspect from a May 6 North Greenbush incident were distributed to the Connecticut State Parole Office, where a parole officer identified the robber as Hunter, Durivage said.

Hunter had previously been on parole with that office but is not currently known to be on any supervised release status. Once he was identified as the suspect, Connecticut law enforcement officials helped
develop more facts about him, including the fact he was believed to be driving a stolen 2017 Dodge Charger. A combination of technology and these new facts assisted police and the FBI in tracking him to a casino in eastern Indiana, Durivage said.

North Greenbush police contacted and mobilized local law enforcement in that area where the suspect, and the stolen vehicle, were located. Hunter was inside the casino when members of the Lawrenceburg, Ind. Police Department spotted him. As it was believed the suspect was armed and dangerous, law enforcement waited to approach Hunter until he went to a restroom, where he was taken into custody without incident, Durivage said.

A federal arrest warrant had been issued for Hunter regarding the May 6 robbery at the North Greenbush Dollar Tree, and he is currently being held on those charges.

Enfield Capt. Jeff Golden said Hunter is a suspect in the theft of a car from Artioli Dodge, but that case is still "an open investigation with multiple agenices."

“While the arrest has been made, there are still many aspects of the investigation that remain open," Durivage said. "It is hoped Hunter’s motives for the robberies will be confirmed through further investigation. Due to the complexity of the joint investigation which involves various law enforcement agencies nationwide, the investigation may take several more weeks to conclude. We are relieved that this part of the case is over and nobody was hurt. Additionally, we appreciate the assistance we received from the many local and state law
enforcement agencies, the FBI and the Intelligence agencies that all worked on this investigation.”

Hunter has been transferred from the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office in Lawrenceburg to FBI custody, according to Durivage.

Photo courtesy of Dearborn County Sheriff's Office