Man, 71, Held At Knifepoint Outside Walgreens: Arlington Police

ARLINGTON, MA — A woman is under arrest for allegedly attempting to rob a 71-year-old man at knife-point outside of the Walgreens Thursday, Arlington Chief Frederick Ryan said in a press release, praising the quick work of a nearby police officer and an off duty officer.

“During the holidays, the Arlington Police Department has an increased presence around shopping areas in the effort to prevent crime,” Chief Ryan said in a statement. “Because this officer was on patrol minutes from where the incident occurred, we were able to locate the suspect almost immediately.”

Rebeckah Cole, 25, whose last known address was in Arlington, according to John Guilfoil is charged on four counts, including armed assault with intent to rob someone older than 65, assault with a dangerous weapon (a knife) on someone older than 65, and shoplifting. She also had a warrant out for her arrest for being a fugitive from justice.

On Thursday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m., someone called to report an attempted armed robbery outside of the Walgreens. When the first officer arrived from his post right around the corner he spoke with a 71-year-old man from Lexington, who told him he was held at knife point and that a woman, later identified at Cole, demanded his wallet. When he refused, the woman ran away.

He described the woman to police who in turn relayed it over the dispatch. An off duty Arlington Police Officer working a safety detail on Mass Ave heard it, and happened to see a woman turning onto Park Avenue who he thought could be the woman.

He went up to the woman and "following an on scene investigation," placed her under arrest.

The officer found a folding knife and four packages of unopened candy, which were determined to have been taken from Walgreens, on her.
Cole was booked by the Arlington Police Department pending her arraignment at Cambridge District Court.

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Photo courtesy of Arlington Police via John Guilfoil.