UPDATE: Armed Robbery at Charles Street CVS Involved Bomb Threat to Library

CVS Pharmacy at Charles Circle was robbed Saturday morning under threat of a bombing both at the store and the West End Library. Bomb squads did not find any explosives in either location.

At about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, police responded to a radio call for an armed robbery involving a bomb threat at 155 Charles St., a CVS Pharmacy. According to store employees, an individual wearing a mask entered the store, approached the counter and passed a note along with a bag to one of the pharmacists and said "Read this and do it," according to police reports. 

The note instructed the pharmacist to fill the bag with several medications. The note further stated that someone would be watching the store in the event police were called. Provided police weren’t called, in two and a half hours time, bombs would be deactivated in the pharmacy and the library. After receiving an undisclosed amount of prescription drugs, the suspect fled the store on foot, police reports state.

According to store employees, the suspect appeared to be a heavy set white male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a black mask and black jeans.

The Boston Police Bomb Squad responded to both the CVS and the West End Library at 151 Cambridge St. A search of both locations for any suspicious-looking devices was conducted and nothing was found. Police say the library was not evacuated.

The Boston Police Department is actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Area A-1 Detectives at (617) 343-4571 or the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC) at (617) 343-4329 or by email at BRIC.bpd@cityofboston.gov.

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1(800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police will stringently guard and protect the identities of those who wish to remain anonymous.